Ukrainian intelligence: Putin again tries to drag Belarus into open war against Ukraine

by The Kyiv Independent news desk October 9, 2022 3:47 PM 1 min read

This audio is created with AI assistance

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin frequently meets with Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko and tries to convince him to join Russia in its war against Ukraine, said Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence.

Lukashenko's regime is a co-belligerent in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, having facilitated the transit of Russian troops and military vehicles, and the country is continued to be used as a launchpad for Russian rockets against Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Belarus now prepares to receive up to 20,000 Russian troops to replenish the units already stationed in the county. As of Oct. 9, six Belarusian battalions (about 6,000 men) have been stationed near the border with Ukraine.

On Oct. 4, Lukashenko accused Ukraine of amassing 15,000 troops along the country's border with Belarus, calling the move a "provocation."

Putin already tried to drag Belarus into an open war against Ukraine in March after Russia staged air attacks on Belarus and blamed Ukraine for them.

The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.Read more

Comments

News Feed

4:09 PM

One-fifth of Ukrainians would move abroad if travel restrictions were lifted, survey shows.

Should the borders open again for all citizens, 70% of the respondents said they would not want to move to another country for permanent residence, while 21% said they are ready to do so, according to a recent survey.

2:57 PM

(Updated: January 22, 2025 3:31 pm)

Trump Ukraine

‘It needs to end’ — State Secretary Rubio’s position on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

As state secretary, Marco Rubio will oversee the implementation of the president's foreign policy, including that relating to Russia's full-scale war — which wasn't directly referred to during Donald Trump's inauguration speech.

3:12 PM

Russia lacks manpower for major breakthrough in Ukraine, top NATO general says.

Russia lacks the manpower for a big breakthrough in Ukraine, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli said during a discussion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 21.

7:12 PM

(Updated: January 22, 2025 3:02 pm)

Cybersecurity

Massive Russian hack on Ukrainian database shows cracks in digitalization drive

2:41 PM

Russia issued ultimatum to Ukraine in 2022 to replace Zelensky with Medvedchuk, president says.

Russia wanted to install pro-Kremlin oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk as Ukraine's president after forcing President Volodymyr Zelensky to step down, the Ukrainian head of state said on Jan. 22, citing a Kremlin ultimatum he received in the early days of the full-scale war.

2:12 PM

'Well-known' Dnipro lawyer detained for allegedly aiding Russian missile strikes.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a lawyer from Dnipro suspected of aiding Russian missile strikes against the city and then attempting to flee the country, the SBU said on Jan. 22.

1:22 PM

Ukraine's Special Forces say they killed 21 North Korean soldiers, show combat footage.

Soldiers of the 8th Regiment of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces resisted an assault of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast for eight hours, killing 21 and wounding 40, the unit said on Jan. 22.

12:38 PM

Zelensky meets German opposition leader, Israeli president at Davos forum.

President Volodymyr Zelensky separately met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 22.

12:08 PM

Ukraine's NATO prospects depend on Trump, Zelensky says.

"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists in Davos.

11:45 AM

Kyiv court arrests 3 senior officers accused of failed defense of Kharkiv Oblast.

A Kyiv court arrested General Yurii Halushkin, General Artur Horbenko, and Colonel Illia Lapin, three officers accused of leading an unsuccessful defense in Kharkiv Oblast during a Russian offensive last year, Suspilne reported on Jan. 21.

10:48 AM

Western intelligence agencies kept contact with Russia during full-scale war, Zelensky says.

"The U.S. and Russia maintained contacts on various levels during the three years of the war… and Europeans too," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with international journalists.

10:17 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 29 over past day.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least two people and injured at least 29 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 22.

9:46 AM

Top Putin aide's son investing in the West despite sanctions, media reports.

Vladimir Kiriyenko, son of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko, has continued making investments in the West through offshore companies despite sanctions, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 21.

9:08 AM

US seeks 'sustainable' peace in Ukraine to avoid new war in '2-4 years,' Rubio says.

"We are going to engage in making it end in a way that is sustainable, meaning we don't just want the conflict to end and then restart in two, three, or four years down the road," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the CBS Mornings program.

8:22 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 823,980 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,950 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:35 AM

Nominee for US ambassador to UN says Trump needs 'maximum flexibility' to end Ukraine war.

Elise Stefanik said during her confirmation hearing that she would "use this position at the United Nations to support (Trump's) strategy and give him maximum flexibility to bring this to a resolution."

6:07 AM

Indian banks block Russian oil payments after new US sanctions.

Following the new restrictions, financial institutions in India began blocking payments for Russian crude, Energy Intelligence reported. India is currently the leading importer of Russian oil.

5:00 AM

Trump claims he urged China's Xi to help end Russia's war in Ukraine.

"He's not done very much on that," Trump told reporters at the White House on Jan. 21. "He's got a lot of ... power, like we have a lot of power. I said, 'You ought to get it settled.' We did discuss it."

3:41 AM

Ukraine's energy grid may suffer from Trump aid freeze, Politico reports.

A freeze on USAID funds could affect Ukraine's ability to rebuild damaged energy infrastructure, conduct demining operations, and fund civil society programs, officials said.

2:05 AM

US 'likely' to sanction Russia if Moscow refuses peace negotiations, Trump says.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Jan. 21 that he would likely impose additional sanctions against Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

12:59 AM

Supervisory board extends arms procurement head's contract, initiates audit following proposed merger.

The contract extensions comes after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov walked back on plans to merge the Defense Procurement Agency and the State Logistics Operator into one agency, following a NATO statement said that the two agencies should be kept separate and two separate supervisory boards established "to perform their tasks and supporting their independence and anti-corruption policies."

11:46 PM

Albania signs 10-year security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.

The wide-ranging agreement includes cooperation between the two countries in areas including defense, intelligence sharing, cyber security, nuclear safety, as well as mutual support for each others accession into the European Union, among other topics.

11:30 PM

Syria reportedly cancels deal with Russian construction firm following Assad's downfall.

The contract, signed in 2019, had committed Moscow to invest at least $500 million in modernizing the port. With the agreement now void, all revenues from the port's operations will go directly to the Syrian state, and its management will revert to local authorities.

11:06 PM

Ukraine-Russia peace deal would require at least 200,000 peacekeepers, Zelensky says.

At least 200,000 European soldiers would be required to serve as peacekeepers on Ukraine's eastern front for a peace deal to be enforced, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 21.

10:44 PM

Trump Russia

Following Trump's inauguration, Russian pundits and politicians show some enthusiasm, some reserve.

Donald Trump was long seen as Russian candidate of choice, in Moscow, however, reactions following inauguration are mixed.

MORE NEWS

Ukrainian intelligence: Putin again tries to drag Belarus into open war against Ukraine

Most popular

Syria reportedly blocks evacuation of Russian military equipment from naval base

Ukraine’s military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says

'Lack of understanding of modern warfare' — Seoul reports 3,000 North Korean casualties in Russia's Kursk Oblast

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's 47th Brigade releases video of 'massive' Russian attack repelled in Kursk Oblast

Russia condemns 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and UK