ISW: Russia de facto annexed Belarus and uses it to prepare for war with NATO
Kyiv • UNN
ISW analysts claim that Russia has de facto annexed Belarus. Russia is using Belarus to invade Polish and Lithuanian airspace as part of its "zero-phase" efforts to create informational and psychological conditions for preparing for a potential war with NATO.
Russia has de facto annexed Belarus. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), according to UNN.
Details
Analysts indicate that Belarusian "balloons" illegally entered Polish airspace on the night of January 30-31 for the second time in 72 hours.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported that Polish military radar detected objects entering Polish airspace from Belarus at night, and that these objects were most likely balloons. In response, Polish authorities temporarily restricted airspace over the Podlaskie Voivodeship (along Poland's eastern border with Belarus)
ISW assesses that Russia has de facto annexed Belarus and is using incursions into Polish and Lithuanian airspace from Belarus as part of its "zero phase" efforts - the phase of creating informational and psychological conditions - to prepare for a possible future war between NATO and Russia.
Recall
On the night of January 31, Poland closed its airspace due to "objects approaching from Belarus."
Lithuania protests Belarus over massive contraband balloon attack28.01.26, 22:55 • 4198 views