Zelenskyy gives Belarusian ruler a week to remove Russian drone relays: Otherwise we will do it ourselves
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has one week to remove relay equipment used to guide Russian drone strikes against Ukrainian cities, otherwise Ukraine will do it itself.
Source: Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with Honduran President Nasry Asfura in Kyiv on Friday 19 June, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine
Quote: "When Mr Lukashenko says that he does not want to be drawn into the war, he should be honest, at least with his own people, because it is not him who may be drawn into the war – it is his entire country that may be dragged into it by Russia. From the first days of this war, they killed children and adults – missiles were launched from Belarus, from his country.
And then he called and apologised, saying that he did not control it and that Russia was acting on its own territory. Of course, I do not believe that, but he did say it."
Details: Zelenskyy added that Russia will continue pushing Lukashenko towards involvement in the war and that he now "understands that Ukraine will respond".
Quote: "No need for extra words. Today there are relay systems on his towers – Russian relays, Belarusian relays. What difference does it make to us? On his territory, along two oblasts bordering Ukraine, there is equipment that guides strikes against Ukrainian civilians – civilians specifically.
There is no active front line there now between Ukraine and Belarus. They are killing civilians there. The relays are installed on the relevant towers. Can he remove them? Why say he does not want to be in the war? Let him remove this equipment, let him switch it off.
I think one week will be enough for him to do this. Why do I say one week? Because our civilians are being killed every day because of this, children are being injured. If he does not do it, we will."
Details: Zelenskyy also said that Lukashenko could stop supplies of petroleum products that are being used by Russian forces in the war against Ukraine.
Quote: "The same applies to, for example, his oil-refining industry. We are doing everything to ensure that the Russians do not have the ability to sell oil and provide diesel and fuel to their army, because all of this is being used against us.
Today he is the main supplier, or one of the main suppliers, to the Russian army. It is Lukashenko, it is Belarus. Can this be stopped? I am convinced it is within his power. And that is something he directly controls."
Background:
- Zelenskyy previously stated that Russia continues its attempts to draw Belarus into the war, including, potentially, as part of preparations for an operation against a NATO member state.
- Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, commenting on threats from Belarus, said that the Ukrainian military had identified 500 potential targets in Belarus. He also advised Lukashenko not to "stick in Ukraine's craw".
- Lukashenko responded to Brovdi's remarks by threatening to strike a "very serious" target in Ukraine, the coordinates of which Minsk supposedly possesses.
- Lukashenko later said that military action from Belarus should not be expected and apologised to Zelenskyy for his harsh remarks.
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