Zelensky warns Russia could use Belarus to boost missile strikes on western Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia may enlist Belarus to intensify missile and drone attacks on western Ukraine, heightening the threat to the region.
Speaking to journalists on Oct. 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia could use Belarus to step up missile and drone assaults on western Ukraine, creating a broader danger zone. He noted that Russian forces already operate drone signal repeaters on Belarusian soil and that President Alexander Lukashenko’s cooperation would be required to station additional ballistic missiles there, making Belarus a direct party to the conflict.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said Belarus-based gear helps relay signals for Shahed and Geran drones heading toward western Ukraine and Poland’s border region. In September, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko reported that Russia’s 101st Missile Brigade, equipped with Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles, had been moved to Belarus. Recent Russian strikes have hit cities in Volyn, Rivne and Lviv oblasts, causing casualties, infrastructure damage and power outages. Zelensky announced plans to boost air-defence coverage nationwide, allocate systems according to threat levels, and ramp up production of defensive turrets.
Why it matters
The possible use of Belarus for missile launches could widen the war’s front and threaten neighboring countries.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report Zelensky’s warning that Russia may use Belarus for missile strikes, but left-leaning coverage stresses Belarus becoming a direct party to the conflict, while right-leaning coverage stresses Russian pressure to host missiles and the risk to Belarusian civilians.
LEFT
Frames the story as a warning that Belarus would become a direct participant in the war by hosting missile and drone operations against western Ukraine.
RIGHT
Frames the story as Russia pressuring Belarus to host ballistic missiles, highlighting the danger this poses to the Belarusian population.
The left emphasises
- Russia could use Belarus to step up missile and drone assaults on western Ukraine
- Belarus already hosts drone signal repeaters that aid attacks
- Belarus would become a direct party to the conflict
The right emphasises
- Russia is trying to compel Belarus to host ballistic missile installations
- Allowing such deployment would put Belarusian civilians at serious risk
- Moscow seeks permission for advanced strike weapons from Belarusian soil
How this story developed
- Oct 14 SpaceX throttles Starlink in Ukraine, hampering drone strike operations
- Oct 14 SpaceX introduced a speed‑based limitation on Starlink terminals when they are moving.
- Oct 15 Speed limit was partially removed, allowing terminals to operate at speeds up to 160 km/h.
- Oct 15 Starshield service restored to normal operation after earlier speed caps.
- Oct 15 Ukrainian defence units say Starshield terminals used for high-speed movement are back online and their performance is gradually improving.
- Oct 15 Ukrainian defence sources said communications were restored but did not confirm that all terminals are fully operational.
- Oct 16 US-imposed speed limits on Starshield reduced bandwidth for Ukrainian frontline units.
- Oct 16 President Trump must decide by Sunday whether to invoke a new sanctions law, and analysts warn that heavy tariffs on India would damage the bilateral relationship.
- Oct 17 Starlink service was restored following talks between the UK and US defence secretaries.
- Oct 17 Trump signed an executive order postponing the enforcement of the Graham Act sanctions.
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