Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has claimed that Russia has harmed Ukraine by attacking Ukrainian targets with ordinary apartment blocks on Belarus’s soil.
In response to revelations from intelligence experts that Moscow may have likely stationed its new nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles at a former airbase in eastern Belarus, Zelenskyy made the allegations on Friday. This is thought to increase Russia’s ability to strike targets in Europe.
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We are aware that the Russians are attempting to cross Belarus’s border’s defensive interceptor lines. After a meeting of the military staff, Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Friday that this was “risky for Belarus.”
The Ukrainian leader said, “It is unfortunate that Belarus is reneging on its sovereignty in favor of Russia’s aggressive ambitions.”
Zelenskyy claimed that Russian forces were assisting them in carrying out their attacks by deploying equipment “in Belarusian settlements close to the border, including on residential buildings.”
He claimed that “Shakes” [Russian drones] are guided to targets in our western regions by antennae and other equipment mounted on the roofs of common five-story apartment buildings.
Minsk needs to stop playing with this, he continued, “This is a total disregard for human lives.” >,
The defense ministries of Belarus and Russia did not respond to inquiries for comment right away.
Belarus continues to be a steadfast ally despite President Alexander Lukashenko’s pledge to send no troops to the conflict, despite the fact that Russia previously launched its invasion of Ukraine in Belarusian territory in February 2022.
Belarus’ defense minister: “Our response” to the West’s “aggressive actions.”
According to an exclusive Reuters news agency report, satellite imagery analyzed by two US researchers suggests that Moscow is stationing Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missiles in eastern Belarus in response to reports of closer Russian and Belarusian coordination in the Ukraine conflict.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, had previously stated that Oreshnik’s missiles, which have an estimated range of 5, 500 kilometers (3, 400 miles), would be impossible to intercept.
Researchers Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California and Decker Eveleth of the Virginia-based CNA research and analysis team said they were 100 percent certain that mobile Oreshnik launchers would be stationed at the former Russian airbase close to Krichev, which is located about 307 kilometers (190 miles) east of Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
Reviews of satellite imagery, according to the researchers from the United States, revealed a labored construction project in Belarus that spanned from August 4 to August 12 and had features that matched those of a Russian strategic missile base.
A “military-grade rail transfer point” that was enclosed by a security fence, where missiles, their mobile launchers, and other components could be delivered by train to the location, Eveleth told Reuters.
According to Lewis, a concrete pad that was constructed and then covered in earth, which he called “consistent” with a camouflaged missile launch point, was another feature.
According to the report, the researchers’ assessment broadly aligns with US intelligence findings.
Russia and Belarus have not yet made any comments on the Reuters report.
However, President Lukashenko acknowledged earlier this month that his country had been using such weapons, despite not specifying where the Russian missiles had been deployed. Up to 10 Oreshniks would be stationed there, he added.
Viktor Khrenin, the Belarusian Defense Minister, claimed this week that the deployment of Oreshnik would not alter Europe’s “aggressive actions” and that it was “our response.”
Regarding the rumored Russian missile deployment in Belarus, the White House did not respond to a request for comment right away.
Early on Saturday, the Ukrainian military reported that the city had been attacked by a new “massive” Russian attack, with air defenses in use, and that cruise and ballistic missiles were being deployed.
To finalize a potential ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, President Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump will meet on Sunday.
Source: Aljazeera
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