Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported them in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before the invasion started, Belarus let the Russian Armed Forces perform weeks-long military drills on its territory. However, the Russian soldiers did not leave the country after they finished. Belarus allowed Russia to start part of the invasion in its territory, giving Russia the shortest possible land route to Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv.^[1][2][3][4] These forces left Ukraine within two months, which ended land-based military operations coming from Belarus and allowing Ukraine to take back their side of the border area.^[5] The situation along the border is still tense, with Ukraine closing all of the border checkpoints leading into Belarus unless there are special cases.^[6]

Map of Russian military activities in Belarus as of 15 March 2022

Russian helicopter Mil Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) in Minsk, 23 February 2022

At the start, Belarus said that they were not involved with the invasion, but they later admitted that they allowed Russian missile launchers in Belarus to shoot at Ukrainian targets. Several reports from the Belarusian opposition and Ukrainian military said that Belarusian soldiers were in Ukraine helping the Russians fight, but Belarus's leader Aleksander Lukashenko said that the reports were wrong and the Belarusian Armed Forces (BAF) would not fight in the invasion. As of early 2023, the BAF have not attacked Ukraine and stayed in Belarus for the entire war. The Belarusian leader has said that there is "no way" he will send soldiers into Ukraine unless they attack first.^[6][7]

The involvement of Belarus was condemned in Western countries. According to Chatham House, Belarus's involvement in the war is not popular with the public.^[8]

At the start of the invasion, Belarus held Russo-Ukrainian peace talks on its border. The talks did not make a lasting ceasefire happen.^[9]

References

1. "Why Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Led to Sanctions on Belarus". Time. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
2. "Russian Hybrid War Report: Belarus joins conflict against Ukraine". Atlantic Council. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
3. Coakley, Amanda (24 February 2022). "Lukashenko Is Letting Putin Use Belarus to Attack Ukraine". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
4. Mallet, Victor (25 February 2022). "Nato alarmed by Belarus role in Ukraine assault". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
5. Hart, Robert. "Russian Forces 'Fully Withdrawn' From Northern Ukraine, U.K. Defense Ministry Says". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
6. Picheta, Frederik Pleitgen,Zahra Ullah,Claudia Otto,Rob (2023-02-16). "Belarus claims it won't send troops to Ukraine unless it is attacked, as tensions escalate at border". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
7. Post, Kyiv. "Belarus Will Only Join Russian Offensive 'If Attacked First' – Lukashenko". Get the Latest Ukraine News Today - KyivPost. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
8. "Как Лукашенко втянул Беларусь в конфликт с Украиной и чем это грозит экономике" [How Lukashenka Dragged Belarus into a Conflict with Ukraine and How It Threatens the Economy]. BBC (in Russian). 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
9. "Ukraine and Russia meet at Belarus border but no ceasefire agreement reached". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.