President of Russia Vladimir Putin (right) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (left)
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin on Friday claimed that Ukraine is likely preparing an armed provocation against Belarus, warning of a possible invasion similar to Ukraine’s recent attack on Russia’s Kursk region. This assertion comes amid escalating tensions along Belarus’ southern borders, as reported by state news agency Belta.
Khrenin stated that Ukrainian Armed Forces and border security continue to reinforce their defenses, with special attention being paid to developing a multi-layered defense system. He expressed concern over the intensified activities of Ukrainian special forces and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) along all sections of the Belarusian border.
“The Ukrainian side is actively conducting reconnaissance operations using unmanned aerial vehicles, with repeated violations of Belarusian airspace,” Khrenin said. He emphasized that the likelihood of armed provocations by Ukraine remains high due to the presence of Ukrainian military units near the border.
These statements come after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, warned that Ukraine might attack Belarus, potentially widening the ongoing conflict. In an interview on Thursday, Lukashenko accused the West, particularly the United States, of wanting to prolong the war between Ukraine and Russia. He claimed that Western powers are pushing Kyiv to continue fighting, aiming for both countries to “destroy each other.”
Without providing specific evidence, Lukashenko suggested that Kyiv could be planning an attack on Belarus, vowing that Minsk would not allow Ukrainian forces to “trample on our country.”
These developments add to growing concerns as the conflict escalates. On Thursday, Russia announced it would strengthen its border defenses and began evacuating civilians from the western Kursk region after Ukrainian forces pushed 35 kilometers into Russian territory.
Alexander Lukashenko continues to play a key role in supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, part of which was launched from Belarusian territory. As tensions rise, the potential expansion of the war into Belarus is becoming an increasingly pressing issue for the international community to monitor.
