Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Pavlo Palisa assessed the risk of Belarus being drawn into the war in an interview with Ukrinform. Overall, his remarks echoed what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier in an interview with Zerkalo published yesterday.
“It is more convenient for Russia to use the territory of Belarus as a territory — for pressure and for the deployment of missiles. At the same time, there is already active use of corridors for the passage of ‘Shaheds’ using communications towers to control drone flights.
Direct involvement of the Belarusian army entails risks for Lukashenka and has questionable combat value, but as an instrument of pressure and blackmail such a threat is being used,” Palisa said.
He also said that the Ukrainian side is constantly raising the issue of the deployment of “Oreshnik” in Belarus in its communication with partners.
“This topic is constantly present in conversations and during our briefings. Embassy representatives ask about the details of the deployment of ‘Oreshnik’ on the territory of Belarus. Partners understand perfectly well that the deployment of such a nuclear-capable delivery system on the territory of Belarus poses a threat to them as well — our Western partners and Europe first and foremost,” he said.