2026-04-17 19:36
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2026-04-17 19:36
Russia will once again try to draw Belarus into its war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday after hearing the report of the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrski.
“According to intelligence data, work is underway on the border of Belarus to expand roads leading to Ukrainian territory and prepare artillery positions. We believe that Russia will once again try to draw Belarus into its war,” Zelensky wrote in the Telegram messenger.
He also noted that attempts by the Russian contingent to regroup forces had been observed, most likely to make up for staff shortages. “Therefore, it is becoming more and more obvious why the activity of the armed forces has increased on the territory of Belarus,” the president believes.
The Ukrainian head of state ordered the Belarusian authorities to be informed through appropriate communication channels that Ukraine is ready to defend its land and independence. “The nature and consequences of the recent events in Venezuela should prevent the Belarusian authorities from making mistakes,” Zelensky said, probably referring to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by US forces in January.
The president also emphasized that in April, the high pace of liquidation of the forces and resources of the Russian army continued. “The Russians are failing to take the initiative on the front, which is very important,” Zelensky noted.
The head of the Ukrainian government's Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD), Andriy Kovalenko, said on Friday that before attempting an offensive in the east and south of Ukraine, Russia instructed Belarus to keep the Ukrainian Armed Forces “in tension.” “In any case, provocations from Belarus will be a mistake on the part of (Alyaksandr) Lukashenko and his regime,” Kovalenko warned.
In February, Zelensky signed a decree implementing the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on the leader of Belarus.
The president recalled that in the second half of 2025, Russia deployed a relay system on the territory of Belarus to control attack drones, which increased the capabilities of the Russian army to attack the northern regions of Ukraine – from Kiev to Volhynia.
According to Zelensky, Lukashenko not only made Belarusian territory available to Russia for the Oreshnik medium-range missile system, but also Belarusian companies supplied Russia with key components for these weapons.
From Kiev Iryna Hirnyk (PAP)
ira/ap/
