President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is using Belarusian territory to launch drone attacks against Ukraine, including through special equipment installed near the Ukrainian border.
According to the president, Ukraine has repeatedly warned that Russia’s efforts to draw Belarus further into the war could lead to “extremely dangerous consequences.”
Zelenskyy said special equipment has been installed along Ukraine’s border on Belarusian territory. He said it operates in Russia’s interests and helps Russian forces carry out drone strikes on Ukrainian territory.
“We in Ukraine know about four such relay stations in Belarus — specifically in the Gomel and Brest regions,” the president said.
According to him, this equipment has been used to carry out strikes on the Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn regions, as well as on Ukraine’s energy facilities, railway infrastructure, cities and villages.
“Belarus still has time to dismantle this equipment,” Zelenskyy said.
The president also said Ukraine knows about every factory in Belarus that works for Russia and its war against Ukraine. He said this includes companies supplying components for Russian weapons, including armored vehicles and missile systems, as well as companies supplying fuel to Russia.
Zelenskyy described this as Belarus being drawn into the war and stressed that Ukraine does not want this.
According to the president, from January to May alone, gasoline supplies from Belarus to Russia increased 13-fold compared with the same period last year, while diesel fuel supplies tripled.
“Unfortunately, this helps Russia adapt to pressure and does not bring peace closer. It should be the other way around: peace must come closer,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Belarus should take steps that would confirm it does not want to take part in the war against Ukraine.
“This war must be ended. Peace is needed,” the president concluded.
