The Belarusian president accused Kyiv of provoking his country, saying his forces had intercepted a missile launched from Ukraine.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday said his troops had shot down missiles from Ukraine fired into their territory and promised an “immediate” response to any enemy attack.
State news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying: “We are being provoked. “I have to tell you that about three days ago, maybe more, they tried to attack military targets in Belarus from Ukraine.
“Thank God, our Pantsir air defense system intercepted all the missiles fired by Ukrainian forces.”
Ukraine said last week that missiles launched from Belarus hit a border area inside its territory.
On Saturday, Lukashenko denied his country was seeking to intervene in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but issued a warning aimed at Kyiv and its Western allies.
“As I said more than a year ago, we have no intention of fighting in Ukraine,” he said.
“We will only fight in one case. If you… enter our land, if you kill our people, then we will respond,” he added, warning that Belarus would respond “immediately” to an attacker’s attack. enemies on their land.
The Kremlin’s longtime ally Belarus has been supporting Russia’s military operation in Ukraine since February 24 by acting as a rear for Moscow’s forces.
Russian troops crossed the Belarusian border into Ukraine when they tried to capture the capital, Kyiv, but failed.
Mr. Lukashenko relies heavily on Russia militarily and economically, and relies on the neighboring country’s support to stabilize his position as widespread protests erupt in 2020 following an election. which the Belarusian opposition claims he stole.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deliver nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles to Belarus “in the coming months.”
“Less than a month ago, I ordered our armed forces to put in our sights decision centers in your capital,” Lukashenko said Saturday, citing rockets that Putin and Belarusian rocket launcher Polonez had promised.
