Belarus has bolstered its air defence forces along the Ukrainian border to safeguard “critical infrastructure facilities” in response to heightened drone activity from Ukraine, a senior Belarusian military official stated on Saturday.
Belarus, a supporter of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, confirmed earlier this week that it had downed a quadcopter crossing illegally from Ukraine, purportedly gathering intelligence on Belarusian border infrastructure.
Andrei Severinchik, commander of the Belarusian Air Defence Forces, emphasized the ongoing tension in the airspace above the border.
He asserted, “We are prepared to use all available forces and resources decisively to defend our territory and the people of the Republic of Belarus from potential provocations in the airspace.”
His statement was issued via the Defence Ministry’s Telegram channel.
The Defence Ministry, earlier on Saturday, reported intelligence indicating Ukraine’s movement of additional troops, weapons, and military equipment towards the northern Zhytomyr region, adjacent to Belarus.
Ukraine had not responded immediately to this information.
This move underscores Belarus’s proactive stance amid regional tensions, reinforcing its commitment to protect its sovereignty and vital assets against perceived threats emanating from Ukrainian airspace activities.