Belarus: President Lukashenko reports alleged shooting down of Ukrainian "fighter drones"
In Belarus, strongman Alexander Lukashenko reported that several alleged Ukrainian aerial targets had been shot down. He stated that air defense had been fully mobilized because around ten aerial objects from Ukraine had entered Belarusian airspace (formerly known as White Russia) in the east of the country, in the Kostyukovichi region, on Friday evening. "The armed forces of Ukraine have violated all rules of conduct and infringed upon the airspace of the Republic of Belarus," Lukashenko said, according to state media. "We suspect that they were combat drones," he added. Alongside air defense on the ground, aircraft and a helicopter were also involved. These claims could not be independently verified.
Lukashenko, often referred to as Europe's last dictator, is one of the key supporters of Russia's war against Ukraine. At the start of the conflict, nearly two and a half years ago, he also allowed Russian troops to enter northern Ukraine from southern Belarus.
The following alleged Ukrainian aerial targets, as stated by Lukashenko, were reportedly shot down over Belarusian airspace. According to the Belarusian leader, these incidents involve a violation of the airspace rules by the Ukrainian armed forces.
