The General Staff noted that threats of attack from Belarusian territory will remain this year.

The threat of the Russians launching missile and drone strikes on Ukraine from the territory of Belarus is increasing, and the risk of a land attack by the Russian Armed Forces from the Belarusian side will also continue throughout the year.

This was announced by the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksiy Gromov. He reminded that last week at least 10 Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters were transferred to the airfield “Machulyshchi” in Belarus.

He also noted that operational-tactical aircraft are also expected to be relocated to Belarusian airfields. Flights in the airspace of Belarus by Russian long-range aviation are not excluded.

“Taking into account the above, the threat of missile and air strikes, the use of kamikaze drones on the territory of our state from the airspace of Belarus is increasing,” Gromov warned.

Also, according to Gromov, the threat of an attack from Belarus will remain this year as well. This is due to the fact that the Russian group of troops will be deployed in Belarus for the purpose of conducting the “Shield of the Union-2023” exercise. And instead of the “Center-2023” exercises, it is planned to conduct the “West-2023” maneuvers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Gromov noted that the peculiarity of these exercises is that in both cases, a Russian group of troops will be deployed on the territory of Belarus, which can be used for an attack.

“… During the year, the potential threat of the Russian Armed Forces from the territory of Belarus will remain,” Gromov emphasized.

At the same time, he clarified that currently no measures have been observed regarding the formation of a strike group by the enemy to resume the attack on Ukraine from the territory of Belarus.

How Belarus helps the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine

Belarus has been helping the Russian Federation wage war against Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion. It was from Belarus that the first tanks of the occupiers advanced in the northern region of Ukraine.

Also, the Russian aviation constantly uses the airspace of Belarus for missile strikes on Ukraine.

In addition, Belarus repairs the military equipment of the Russian army, serves as a “hub” for the transfer of Russian equipment and hosts Iranian drones.