Additional Coverage:
Belarus’ Role in the Ukraine War
Despite supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has managed to avoid direct involvement in the war.
However, Russian forces have used Belarus as a launchpad for attacks and a training ground for troops. Minsk also hosts Russian nuclear warheads.
As the war intensifies, Belarus faces increased danger. In November, there was a record number of Russian drones entering the country.
Despite Belarusian complaints about Ukrainian drones, opposition groups claim the government is hiding evidence of Russian munitions crossing into the country.
The situation is concerning for Belarus’ pro-Western opposition, who see the drone flights as a sign of weakness and a threat to the country’s neutrality.
The use of Belarusian airspace by Russian drones also poses a threat to NATO nations bordering Belarus. Latvia has already reported a Russian drone crash and is implementing new security measures.
Experts believe that Russia is exploiting Belarus’ airspace to advance its aggressive foreign policy goals and create hybrid warfare scenarios.