Ukraine War Update: Zelensky Claims Russia Attacks via Belarus Land
The war in Ukraine continues to shift and adapt, with President Volodymyr Zelensky revealing a troubling new facet of Russian strategy. In a Telegram post following a high-level military meeting on Friday, Zelensky accused Russia of actively using Belarusian territory—and its civilian population—as a platform to bypass Ukraine’s increasingly robust air defenses.
This is not a simple case of logistical support from an ally. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the tactic is alarmingly direct and brazen. Zelensky stated that Russia is setting up guidance equipment for its Iranian-made “Shahed” drones on the rooftops of ordinary five-story apartment blocks in Belarusian settlements near the border. These residential buildings are being transformed into military launch and control sites.
“This is an absolute disregard for human lives,” Zelensky warned, framing the move as both a military threat and a profound abdication of sovereignty by Minsk. “It is unfortunate that Belarus is surrendering its sovereignty in favor of Russia’s aggressive ambitions.”
The implications are stark. By operating from within civilian areas in Belarus, Russia complicates Ukraine’s potential response and shields its assets behind a population of a supposedly independent state. It also deliberately raises the stakes for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has long vowed not to commit his own troops to the conflict. Zelensky’s message carried a clear subtext: “This is risky for Belarus.”
This development represents an escalation in the exploitation of Belarusian territory, which served as a crucial launchpad for the initial invasion in February 2022. While Lukashenko remains a steadfast Kremlin ally, this new phase sees his country’s infrastructure and civilian spaces being actively weaponized, drawing it deeper into the conflict without formally deploying its army.
The Ukrainian military staff meeting also focused on the urgent need to counter the growing intensity of Russian drone attacks. Officials see interceptor drones as the most economically viable solution, and Zelensky has tasked the general staff with refining air defense strategies to protect both critical infrastructure and frontline positions.
Meanwhile, the strategic pressure on Belarus’s role continues to mount from the Russian side as well. Earlier this month, Lukashenko confirmed the deployment of Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system to Belarus, a weapon touted by Vladimir Putin as “impossible to intercept.” Independent assessments suggest these systems are likely stationed at a former air base in eastern Belarus, significantly extending Russia’s potential strike range across Europe.
Zelensky’s accusation paints a picture of a war that is geographically expanding in subtle but dangerous ways. It is no longer just about the front lines in Donbas or the drone attacks on Odesa. It is about how Russia leverages the territory of a subservient neighbor, turning its apartment blocks into military assets and its soil into a platform for advanced, terrifying weapons.
The world watches as Belarus, once a buffer, is being systematically transformed into a forward operating base—a move that risks its people and further destabilizes the security of the entire region. The plea from Kyiv is clear: Minsk must stop playing with this fire before it consumes them all.
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