Ukraine’s intelligence chief warns over Russian missile deployment in Belarus

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief says Russia has moved elements of its 101st Missile Brigade to Belarus, bringing the Oreshnik medium-range missile system closer to Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank.

Oleh Ivashchenko told Ukrinform that Kyiv currently saw no signs of Belarus preparing to enter the war against Ukraine directly. He assessed the immediate military threat from the Belarusian direction as low.

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However, we are concerned that Belarus allowed the deployment of radio communication systems on its territory that guide Russian Shahed attack drones toward Ukrainian civilian targets and critical infrastructure.

But he said Ukraine was concerned that Belarus had allowed radio communication systems on its territory to guide Russian Shahed attack drones toward Ukrainian civilian targets and critical infrastructure. “We are also observing the deployment in Belarus of units of the 101st Missile Brigade of the Russian armed forces, equipped with the Oreshnik medium-range missile system,” Ivashchenko said.

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If Belarus did not give such permission, then this indicates that Minsk no longer controls Russian activities on its own territory.

The deployment gives Russia another potential platform from which to position long-range missiles closer to Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank. Ivashchenko also raised a broader question about Belarusian control over Russian military activity inside the country. “If Belarus did not give such permission, then this indicates that Minsk no longer controls Russian activities on its own territory,” he said.

Ukraine has closely watched Belarus throughout the war because Russian forces used Belarusian territory during the initial invasion in February 2022. Moscow has continued to maintain military infrastructure and personnel there. Oreshnik missiles can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and are difficult to intercept, according to the article. Ukrainian intelligence does not currently assess that Belarusian forces themselves are preparing a new offensive against Ukraine. Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Sekreta has separately said Minsk would use its “entire arsenal” if Ukrainian forces crossed the Belarusian border.

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We will use our entire arsenal.