Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has information about special equipment installed in Belarus and used by Russia to conduct drone strikes against Ukrainian territory. He made the statement in his regular evening address on Saturday.
“Ukraine has repeatedly signaled that Russia’s efforts to drag Belarus into this war could lead to extremely dangerous consequences. In particular, we have identified special equipment installed along our border on Belarusian territory that works for Russia and helps Russian forces carry out drone strikes against us and our territory,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Ukraine is aware of four such relay stations located in Belarus’s Homiel and Brest regions.
“We in Ukraine know about four such relay stations in Belarus, specifically in the Homiel and Brest regions. It is thanks to this equipment that strikes have been carried out against the Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn regions, against our energy infrastructure, our railway system, and ordinary cities and villages,” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelenskyy argued that Belarus can still avoid deeper involvement in the war and called for the equipment to be dismantled.
“Belarus still has time to dismantle this equipment,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader also said Kyiv is monitoring Belarusian enterprises that work in the interests of Russia’s military-industrial complex. He referred to supplies of components for Russian armored vehicles and missile systems, as well as fuel deliveries for the Russian military.
“We also know every factory in Belarus that works for Russia and for this war. Every enterprise supplying components for Russian weapons, for armored vehicles and missile systems, as well as companies supplying fuel to Russia for the war, contributes to drawing Belarus into the conflict. Ukraine does not want this, and we have warned the de facto leadership of Belarus, which influences these processes,” Zelenskyy said.
According to the Ukrainian side, Belarusian gasoline exports to Russia increased thirteenfold in January-May compared with the same period last year, while diesel fuel exports tripled.
Kyiv believes such actions help Russia adapt to external pressure and do not contribute to peace efforts.
“Everything should be the opposite. Peace should be getting closer, and Belarus should take the steps that its de facto leadership discusses through unofficial channels so that we in Ukraine can truly see that Belarus is genuinely against this war. This war must end. Peace is needed,” Zelenskyy said.
On Friday, the Ukrainian president gave Aliaksandr Lukashenka one week to disable the relay stations allegedly used by Russian drones.
“Can he remove it? Why make statements that he does not want war? Let him remove this equipment, let him switch it off. I think one week is enough for him to do that. Why do I say a week? Because every day civilians are being killed and children are being injured because of this. If he does not do it, we will,” Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Honduran President Nasry Asfura in Kyiv.
