Russia has increased drone attacks launched through Belarus

Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, has said that Russia has increased the number of drone attacks on Ukraine launched via Belarusian territory.

Source: Demchenko during a press briefing on 5 June

Details: Demchenko noted that the regime of self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko had recently accused Ukraine of carrying out regular drone attacks on Belarusian border infrastructure, while ignoring the transit of Russian drones through Belarusian territory.

"Belarus has in no way condemned such actions," he stressed.

Quote: "Most of the drones that Russia launches in its large-scale attacks on Ukraine enter Belarusian airspace and travel through its territory before crossing into Ukraine via Kyiv and Zhytomyr oblasts. There has been an increase in the use of this tactic over the past few weeks."

Details: Demchenko said the Kremlin is "currently exerting active pressure on Belarus to join the war against us with its own forces". Ukraine continues to strengthen its defences and fortifications along its northern border because of the ongoing threat of provocations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian border guards have not observed an increase in Russian troop numbers near the Belarusian border that would be sufficient to launch an attack on Ukraine.

Background:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in May 2026 that Russia is considering military operations to the north and south of Belarusian territory. This could involve an offensive towards Ukraine or one of the NATO member states in an effort to draw Belarus even deeper into the war.
• Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, later confirmed that the threat of a Russian offensive from Belarusian territory is real. He said that the Russian General Staff is actively assessing and planning such operations, which could lead to a significant expansion of the line of contact.

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