Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is closely monitoring increased military activity in Belarus, warning that Russia may again attempt to pull its ally into the war.
In a statement following a briefing from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had detected signs of military preparations near the Belarusian border.
“According to intelligence, in the border area of Belarus there is road construction toward Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions,” he said.
Kyiv warns Minsk through diplomatic channels
Zelenskyy said Ukraine believes these developments could be linked to Russian efforts to compensate for manpower shortages and potentially expand the scope of the conflict.
“We believe that Russia will once again try to draw Belarus into its war,” he said, adding that Kyiv had instructed officials to warn Belarusian leadership through appropriate channels.
He said Ukraine had made clear it is prepared to defend its territory and independence if the situation escalates.
The warning comes as Ukraine reports continued Russian attempts to regroup forces along the front line, while failing to seize the battlefield initiative despite sustained offensive operations in April.
Belarus as Russia's staging ground – a pattern since 2022
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has played a key role in Moscow’s war effort despite not formally entering the conflict. Russian forces used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for the initial assault on Kyiv in February 2022, launching troops and equipment south toward the Ukrainian capital.
Since then, Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory for military exercises and logistics, while avoiding direct participation in combat.
North as a secondary front, long-range strikes ahead
Zelenskyy’s comments suggest Kyiv is concerned about the possibility of renewed pressure from the north, even as the main fighting remains concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine.
He added that Ukraine is also planning further long-range strike operations as part of its broader military strategy.
