Ukraine Urges Belarus to Keep Distance

(MENAFN) Ukraine has instructed Minsk to maintain a safe distance from its borders during the upcoming joint military exercises with Russia set to take place in Belarus.

This advisory comes ahead of the ‘Zapad-2025’ military drill, which is planned for September 12–16.

Belarus permitted Russian troops to operate from its territory after the conflict with Ukraine intensified in February 2022.

Since then, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has frequently asserted that Minsk has no plans to launch an attack on Kiev and will only engage militarily if Belarus itself comes under threat.

On Friday, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry released a statement accusing Belarus of supporting Moscow and issued a stern warning. Kiev’s Foreign Ministry declared, “We warn Minsk against reckless provocations and urge it to remain prudent, refrain from approaching the borders, and avoid provoking Ukraine’s Defense Forces.”

This year’s military exercises will involve a range of operations, including counter-sabotage efforts, drone combat, electronic warfare tactics, and offensive assaults.

According to Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, the drills will also showcase the Russian Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile.

This weapon was first deployed in combat in November 2024 during a strike on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash facility in Dnepr.

Russian officials have likened its conventional destructive capacity to that of a low-yield nuclear weapon.

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