Ukraine has issued a threat to potentially engage in military action against Belarus within the coming week if Belarus does not dismantle equipment used for directing Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has given Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, a seven-day ultimatum to remove the said equipment. Zelensky emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing civilian casualties and injuries caused by the ongoing conflict.
Failure to comply with the demand may prompt Ukraine to take unilateral action, further escalating tensions with Russia, which has been attempting to involve Belarus in the conflict, a move Lukashenko has resisted thus far.
Zelensky also urged Lukashenko to cease supplying petroleum products to Russian forces involved in the war against Ukraine, pointing out Lukashenko’s significant role in supporting Russian military activities.
Although Belarus has not officially entered the war with its own troops, it has played a crucial role in assisting Russia, including hosting military operations and facilitating logistical support.
The situation intensified as Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency revealed that an attack on a Belarusian youth sports team bus in Russia was orchestrated by Russian special services, in contrast to Russia’s claim that it was a Ukrainian drone strike. Zelensky dismissed Russia’s allegations as a false flag operation.
Despite Lukashenko’s claims of Belarus’ military vulnerability and reluctance to engage in the conflict, Zelensky’s warnings to Belarus have been met with skepticism by Russian state news agency TASS, labeling them as “another series of threats against Belarus.”
