As military training grounds in Belarus expand after the creation of the Russia-Belarus joint military command force, Ukraine reports the deployment of kamikaze drones to a Belarusian airfield near the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko reiterates his intention not to send Belarusian forces to Ukraine. After severing ties
As Belarusians mourn The Night of the Executed Poets, the climax of the Stalinist repressions against intellectuals, state-sponsored repressions continue almost a century later. Moscow deploys ballistic missiles to Belarus, and Minsk opens two military command centers to train Russian troops as part of the countries’ joint military command force.
Concerns over a potential offensive from Belarus continue as covert mobilization, and the movement of Russian troops to Belarus continues. Russia launches Iranian-made drones from Belarusian territory, continuing Belarus' role as a co-belligerent in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime makes critical changes to Belarus' electoral
Belarus to welcome 9,000 Russian troops. Meanwhile, a covert mobilization is ongoing in Belarus. Belarus' dictator Alexander Lukashenko warns of a so-called "increased risk of terrorist threats" in Belarus, as authorities give contradicting statements about an alleged "counter-terrorist regime" in the country. Ukraine is considering abolishing Kyiv's visa-free regime
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko supported Russia's missile attacks against Ukraine, adding that his country began the process of creating a joint regional military command with Moscow. Additionally, Lukashenko subordinated the KGB directly to himself, potentially fearing the arrival of a large group of Russian troops, which he welcomed as part
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the President’s Office, said that there was currently "no talk" of an invasion from Belarus.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko gathered top military command on Oct. 10, as Russia was bombing multiple Ukrainian cities. Lukashenko supported Russia's attacks, adding that his country began the process of creating a joint regional military command with Moscow. He didn't explain what the new military formation would be tasked with.
For the first time since the start of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko acknowledges Belarus' involvement in Russia's war. As Belarus prepares to receive up to 20,000 Russian troops, Lukashenko accuses Ukraine of amassing troops on the border. The government-in-exile, led by opposition leader Sviatlana
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Sept. 25. Lukashenko told Putin there's no point in going after those that flee Russia's mobilization decree. "Let them run," the dictator said. Meanwhile, Belarus refrains from directly following Russia's footsteps, yet still announcing "mobilization" drills
As Moscow announces "partial mobilization" of its citizens amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has yet to follow suit. However, Lukashenko cements his regime's role as a co-belligerent in Russia's war as he emphasizes his support for Russian forces. Tensions mount as Belarus is among a
Military exercises continue on both sides of the border as Minsk focuses on improving offensive operations while Kyiv bolsters its demining and defensive efforts. Belarus allows Russia to use two military bases for 25 more years. Minsk also unveils the first units of the long-awaited "people's militia." Meanwhile, Belarusian volunteers
Ukraine imposes sanctions against Belarusian companies and officials seizing their assets in the country. The Ukrainian General Staff reports that Belarus holds military drills in which it simulates crossing the Belarusian border with Ukraine. Belarus’ dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed that Belarusians who left the country and were convicted on charges
The number of Russian rockets hitting Ukraine from Belarus substantially increased after Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko “congratulated” Ukraine on its Independence Day. Meanwhile, Belarusian aircraft had been re-equipped to carry Russian nuclear weapons, while the newly created Belarusian territorial defense held exercises in Minsk. Lukashenko expressed regret that the Belarus
The Kyiv Independent is continuing to provide readers with a weekly roundup to help explain current events in Belarus. To receive the Belarus Weekly newsletter subscribe via this LINK. Maxar Technologies publishes satellite imagery identifying newly deployed Russian weapons and aircraft in the aftermath of explosions at the Belarusian Ziabrauka
Aug. 9 marks the second anniversary of the day when Belarusians had the chance to break free from decades of despotic rule. This date also marks the day when Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself president for his sixth consecutive term in an election internationally deemed as neither free nor
As Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko sided with Russia in its attempt to curtail Ukrainian independence, those fleeing Lukashenko’s oppressive regime found themselves unwanted in Ukraine as well. Since February, Belarusians in Ukraine have been facing a set of financial and bureaucratic restrictions forcing them out of the country. The
Thirty-two years ago, on July 27, the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic issued a declaration "On State Sovereignty,” approaching the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. The country’s Independence Day was celebrated on July 27 before strongman Alexander Lukashenko took power and canceled the holiday. The Kyiv Independent is
In his native Belarus, 30-year-old tech entrepreneur Andrey Poznyak was once a political prisoner. He spent six months behind bars for protesting Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown on civil society following fraudulent elections in 2020. Poznyak later made his way to Ukraine, along with thousands of fellow techies,
The Kyiv Independent is continuing to provide readers with a weekly roundup to help explain current events in Belarus. To receive the Belarus Weekly newsletter subscribe via this LINK. International rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s signal Belarus hit “default,” citing the country’s failure to repay Eurobond payments. Russia
The Kyiv Independent is continuing to provide readers with a weekly roundup to help explain current events in Belarus. To receive the Belarus Weekly newsletter subscribe via this LINK. Reports indicate increased Russian presence in Belarusian airspace as Belarus cedes control of one of its air bases to Russia. Belarus’
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began simultaneously from four main directions, one of them involving Belarusian territory. Soon after, Belarusian troops were expected to join the war directly. However, four months into Russia’s war, Belarus' autocrat Alexander Lukashenko continues to hold out on sending his soldiers to war.
The Kyiv Independent is continuing to provide readers with a weekly roundup to help explain current events in Belarus. To receive the Belarus Weekly newsletter subscribe via this LINK. Ukraine was again at the center of Belarus’ domestic agenda. Belarus' Independence Day was marred by allegations from the country’s
Russia is attempting to sow hatred between Belarusians and Ukrainians, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement on June 28. “We cannot be divided, as it only helps the enemy,” Tsikhanouskaya said in her public response to an earlier address by President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Belarusians will do everything
The peaceful lives of Ukrainians were abruptly shattered by the incoming missiles that marked the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24. Many of those missiles were fired from Belarus. The regime under Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, held afloat by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has permitted Russian troops
At the toughest moment in the history of relations between Ukraine and Belarus, the Kyiv Independent sat down to speak with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarus opposition in exile. Back in 2020, Tsikhanouskaya contested Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election. There is evidence that the election
Belarus' parliament approved a bill on May 4 to amend the country’s criminal code, introducing capital punishment for acts of "attempted terrorism." Previously, the death penalty was assigned to those that committed terrorist acts that resulted in casualties. Belarus’ State Security Committee, or KGB, has a long list of
As Russia fails to inflict quick defeat upon Ukraine after four days of fierce hostilities, Vladimir Putin is about to pull his Belarusian ally, dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko into his war of occupation. Amid many speculations, multiple sources say the decision has been made — and as soon as on Feb. 28
The change in Belarus’s geopolitical status over the past 18 months represents one of the most dramatic shifts in the security calculus in Eastern Europe since Russia’s illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea.
A large number of Russian soldiers in the eastern part of the country have been sent on mysterious 6-9-month missions toward Ukraine, according to the Moscow-based Conflict Intelligence Team’s report published on Jan. 19. The report comes as Russian troops, which moved from the country’s far east to
A Belarusian court on Dec. 14 sentenced opposition leader and popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky to 18 years in a high-security prison. Five other suspects in the Tikhanovsky case were jailed for 14 to 16 years. The verdict is a new low in what has been described as the biggest wave
A dispute between Ukraine and Belarus flared up over the weekend after Belarus’s State Border Service accused a Ukrainian military helicopter of breaching Belarus’ airspace on Dec. 4, which Kyiv denied. The State Border Service of Belarus told state-owned media outlet BELTA that a Ukrainian Mi-8 military helicopter, flying
The government has allocated $6.5 million to monitor the Belarusian border to prevent groups of illegal migrants from crossing. The joint operation was launched on Nov. 23. It will be coordinated by the Border Guard Service and carried out by the National Guard, the National Police and the Armed
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