Ukrainian foreign ministry denies Belarusian claims of drone attack on lorry in Russia
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a protest over the summoning of the Ukrainian chargé d'affaires in Belarus to the Foreign Ministry in Minsk and claims by Belarus that a Ukrainian drone attacked a Belarusian lorry in Russia's Bryansk Oblast.
Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by the spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Details: The spokesperson emphasised that there is no justification for holding Ukraine responsible without providing convincing evidence of its involvement in the incident with the lorry in Bryansk Oblast.
Quote from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: "Minsk's public accusations against Ukraine are accompanied by rhetoric about the alleged deliberate dragging of Belarus into the conflict and threats of 'appropriate measures in response'. We reject such absurd accusations from a country that is an accomplice to the crime of aggression against Ukraine and provides Russia with extensive assistance in its criminal war of conquest against our country."
Details: The ministry condemned attempts to shift responsibility for the consequences of Russian aggression, portray Ukraine as a source of threats to Belarus and deliberately escalate tension in the region. It urged Belarus to refrain from making unfounded accusations and threats and manipulating information.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry had previously stated that it summoned Ukraine's chargé d'affaires, Ivan Novytskyi, on 9 October due to an alleged attack by a Ukrainian drone on a Belarusian-registered heavy goods vehicle in Russia's Bryansk Oblast on 8 October. According to the Belarusian ministry, a female citizen of Belarus sustained severe injuries in the attack.
A note of protest was handed to the Ukrainian diplomat, stating that "Kyiv had been warned before about the inadmissibility of such actions".
Quote from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry: "The vehicle's registration was clear and the Belarusian side has grounds to consider the attack intentional. The Ukrainian side has been warned against repeating such actions. It was emphasised that the responsibility for their consequences lies entirely with the Ukrainian authorities. Belarus reserves the right to take appropriate measures in response."
Background:
- In August, Ukraine reminded Belarus that it "distinguishes between the Belarusian people and the regime of Alexander Lukashenko".
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia is continuing its attempts to draw Belarus into the war.
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