Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday that his army had shot down missiles fired from Ukraine at Belarus and that his country would “respond” if a strike was launched on its territory.
“We are provoked. I have to tell you that about three days ago, maybe more, there was an attempt from Ukraine to hit military targets in Belarus. Praise be to God, our Pantsir anti-aircraft systems intercepted all missiles fired by Ukrainian forces,” he said.
“I repeat to you, as I said more than a year ago, we have no intention of fighting in Ukraine”, he however assured, during a ceremony at the eve of Belarus Independence Day.
“We will only fight in one case, if you […] come into our land, if you kill our people then we will respond,” he continued.
Since the attack on the Kremlin against Ukraine on February 24, Belarus, an ally of Russia, has served as a rear base for Russian forces.
Russian troops had notably set off from Belarus to try to take the capital kyiv, before giving up at the end of March in the face of Ukrainian resistance and withdrawing.
Mr. Lukashenko’s regime, under heavy Western sanctions, is very dependent militarily and economically on Russia.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deliver “in the coming months” to Belarus Iskander-M missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
On Saturday, Alexander Lukashenko said he would respond “instantly” to any enemy strike against Belarusian territory, a message visibly intended for kyiv and Westerners.
“If only you dare to strike, as they plan, Gomel, or the Mozyr refinery, or Louninets airport, or Brest, then the response will come instantly, in just a second,” he warned.
“Less than a month ago I gave the order to our armed forces to have in sight, as we say now, the decision-making centers in your capitals”, he said, referring to the missiles promised by Mr. Putin, as well as the Belarusian rocket launcher system Polonez.