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At least 10 Shahed-type drones veer into Belarus during overnight attack on Ukraine, monitoring group says

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At least 10 Shahed-type drones veer into Belarus during overnight attack on Ukraine, monitoring group says
Illustrative purposes only: An Iranian-made Shahed 131/136 kamikaze drone, a model often used by Russian forces in airstrikes against Ukraine. Southern Operational Command/Telegram)

At least 10 Shahed-type drones strayed into Belarus during Russia's overnight drone attack on Ukraine on Dec. 6, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported.

The drones reportedly crossed into Belarus from Russia, heading toward Homel, Loyew, and Mazyr. The incursions occurred at various intervals starting at 10:07 p.m. local time and continued through to the early morning hours.

The Belarusian Air Force did not respond to the incidents.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 53 Shahed-type drones from Orel during the night of Dec. 6. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 32, while 16 were "lost," and two flew into Belarusian airspace.

Belarus’s military confirmed in September that a drone had been downed over its territory for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Despite multiple reported incidents of Shahed-type drones straying into Belarus, Minsk has not publicly criticized Moscow, its key ally.

Drone attacks involving Belarusian airspace have become increasingly frequent, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group noted.

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Tim Zadorozhnyy

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Tim Zadorozhnyy is the reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. He studied International Relations and European Studies at Lazarski University and Coventry University and is now based in Warsaw. Tim began his journalism career in Odesa in 2022, working as a reporter at a local television channel. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half with the Belarusian independent media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor. Tim is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

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