Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin wants Belarus to host his long-range drone bases, Zelensky claims
Russian president Vladimir Putin is planning to open four ground control stations to host long-range attack drones in Belarus, president Volodymyr Zelensky said, citing information from Ukraine’s military intelligence service.
“There will be responses to this. And they will be felt,” he said.
Belarus, a long-time Russian ally, has been reluctant to take on an active role in the war but allowed Russian forces to pass through its territory at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
It has also agreed to host some Russian military assets, including nuclear-capable missiles.
Zelensky has warned Belarus is becoming increasingly involved in Russia’s war as it drags on into a fifth year.
Meanwhile, Ukraine claims Russia has lost over 6,000 soldiers in just four days of “intensive assault operations” amid improving spring weather conditions.
Ukrainian commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said Kyiv had largely managed to repel Russia’s renewed push to capture more Ukrainian land.
