Zelenskyy says Russia using Belarus territory to bypass Ukrainian defences

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia is using territory in neighbouring Belarus to support attacks on Ukrainian targets and to circumvent Kyiv’s defensive positions, warning that the practice undermines Belarusian sovereignty.

Zelenskyy made the remarks on 26 December 2025, posting on Telegram after a meeting of Ukraine’s military staff. He said Ukrainian intelligence had observed equipment being deployed in Belarusian settlements near the border, including on the roofs of residential apartment buildings, to assist Russian drone operations.

“We note that the Russians are trying to bypass our defensive interceptor positions through the territory of neighbouring Belarus,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This is risky for Belarus. It is unfortunate that Belarus is surrendering its sovereignty in favour of Russia’s aggressive ambitions.”

Zelenskyy specifically cited Shahed drones — unmanned aerial vehicles used by Russian forces — saying antennas and other guidance equipment had been placed on ordinary five‑storey apartment blocks. “This is an absolute disregard for human lives, and it is important that Minsk stops playing with this,” he added.

Requests for comment from the Russian and Belarusian defence ministries were not immediately answered.

At the staff meeting, Zelenskyy said officials discussed ways to fund interceptor drones, which Ukrainian authorities consider an economically viable method to counter the increasing intensity of Russian drone attacks. He said the general staff of the Ukrainian military had been tasked with devising adjustments to strategy to better defend infrastructure and frontline positions from air attacks.

• Is Russia preparing a Belarus base for nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles?
• Belarus confirms Russian Oreshnik missiles placed on combat alert

Separately, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said earlier this month that Russia’s Oreshnik ballistic missile system — described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as difficult to intercept — had been deployed in Belarus and entered active service.

An assessment by two U.S. researchers, also reported by Reuters on Friday, said Moscow was likely positioning the nuclear‑capable hypersonic Oreshnik missiles at a former air base in eastern Belarus. Analysts said such a deployment could enhance Russia’s capacity to strike targets across Europe.

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News Politics Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russia Belarus ukraine defence