Zelenskyy Says Russia Plans to Deploy Ballistic Weapons in Belarus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia could intensify attacks on Ukraine’s western regions and was seeking to deploy Russian ballistic weapons on Belarusian territory. He made the remarks while answering journalists’ questions during an online briefing on WhatsApp, UNIAN reports.

The Ukrainian leader noted that Moscow was already involving Belarus in its attacks, including by using repeaters employed by Russian attack drones.

“Is there a threat of strikes and intensified attacks on the western part of our country? Absolutely. Is Russia preparing for this? I think so,” he said.

The Ukrainian president believes the Kremlin is trying to increase pressure on Aliaksandr Lukashenka to deploy additional weapons capable of striking targets from the air in Belarus, including ballistic weapons.

“This will pose a threat primarily to the western part of our country. I think Putin has such plans… But this would mean directly dragging Belarus into this war. Directly,” he said.

The Ukrainian president urged the Belarusian authorities not to agree to the deployment of such weapons, warning that Belarus’s direct involvement in the war against Ukraine would also endanger its own citizens.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is strengthening its air defenses in the western part of the country, particularly in areas where the threat of Russian strikes already exists or could increase in the future.