Lukashenko claims "destruction of air targets" over Belarus
Kyiv • UNN
Lukashenko claims that on August 9, air defense systems shot down several targets, presumably drones, over the territory of Belarus. According to him, they came from Ukraine, but he did not provide evidence.
Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko said that on August 9, air defense troops allegedly "destroyed" several air targets over the territory of Belarus, allegedly from Ukraine, UNN reports, citing the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty.
Details
According to Lukashenko, on August 9 at 18:10 local time, the air force and air defense forces of Belarus were put on high alert due to the violation of Belarusian airspace.
"In the eastern direction, it is very close to us in the area of Kostiuky district. Therefore, air defense forces were put on full combat alert to intercept the targets. There were about a dozen of them. Airplanes and a helicopter took off. MLRS systems were also put on high alert. At 19:4 p.m., at an altitude of one and a half kilometers and a range of 6.5 kilometers, the air defense forces destroyed several targets over the territory of Belarus," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the Belarusian media.
He also added that they are searching for what was "destroyed" overnight and this morning. "We suspect that these are attack drones. Having violated the airspace of Belarus, they flew out of Ukraine," Lukashenko said.
In addition, Lukashenko touched upon the situation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, stating that after reports of "entering" the region through the border, there was advance "several dozen kilometers, 30-35."
Ukraine has not yet commented on Lukashenko's statements.
Addendum
Earlier in July, the monitoring group Belaruski Gaius reported that the "Shaheds" used by Russia to attack Ukraine had flown into the territory of Belarus several times. However, the Belarusian authorities did not report this at the time.
