Lukashenko accuses Ukraine of trying to strike at military facilities in Belarus

“We are being provoked. I must report to you: three days ago, maybe a little more, they tried to hit military facilities on the territory of Belarus from the territory of Ukraine,” Lukashenko said at a ceremony to mark Belarusian Independence Day.

There is no evidence that any such attack took place.

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“But, thank God, the Pantsir anti-aircraft systems managed to intercept all the missiles that were launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Lukashenko said.

At the same time, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus said that Minsk “does not want to fight against Ukraine” and that not a single Belarusian soldier is participating in the war.

“We hold on, we understand that these are provocations and we keep holding on. A bad peace is better than a good war,” Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko's statements about the alleged strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine contrast with the fact that the Russian air force began to do strike Ukraine from Belarusian airspace about a week ago.

For the first time since the beginning of a full-scale war, the Russians on June 25 used Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flying over the territory of Belarus to carry out over 50 missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine overnight.

Read also: Lukashenko regime responsible attacks against Ukraine, not Belarus people – Tsikhanouskaya

Threat of invasion from Belarus: what is known

It was also reported that Russia is preparing provocations to draw Belarus into the war against Ukraine.

In addition, according to intelligence, the Russian Federation is again strengthening its military presence in Belarus, including deploying warplanes.

This has prompted the Ukrainian command to strengthen the border with Belarus and station part of the army in bordering oblasts.

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Belarus has been conducting mass military exercises, which practice the “transition from peacetime to wartime” since the beginning of June. It was reported on July 1 that the exercises of the Belarusian armed forces at the country's training grounds had again been extended. They will continue until at least July 9.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko regularly threatens to directly intervene in Russia's war against Ukraine. Among other things, the dictator stated that Belarus "will have to fight for the western regions of Ukraine." He also said that “what is happening in Ukraine is only the beginning” and allegedly “one of the elements of a major reshaping of the world.”

He has threatened Ukraine with an "instant" retaliatory strike in response to threats from Ukraine.

There is no evidence that Ukraine poses or has posed a military threat to Belarus.

British intelligence believes that Lukashenko is balancing between supporting the Russian war against Ukraine and the desire to avoid direct military involvement with the risk of Western sanctions, Ukrainian retribution, and possible discontent in the Belarusian armed forces.

Despite the fact that the Belarusian army is not directly participating in the war against Ukraine, the territory of Belarus was used as a springboard for the offensive of the Russian military and equipment into northern Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Russia continues to launch missiles into Ukraine from the territory of Belarus, and Russian multiple rocket launching systems are placed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. In addition, Russian planes launch missiles at Ukraine from Belarusian airspace. Russia also uses Belarusian airfields to station its military aircraft.