Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned neighboring Belarus—Russia’s close ally—to remove signaling equipment allegedly used by the Kremlin to target Ukraine, stating that Kyiv will take action itself if Minsk fails to do so.
“What is the point of saying that he [Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko] does not want to be involved in the war? Let him remove these devices, let him switch them off. I think one week would be enough to do that,” Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv on June 19.
“If he does not do it, we will,” he added, without providing further details.
Zelensky claimed that the signal transmission stations were located in two regions of Belarus near the Ukrainian border and were being used by Russian forces to assist navigation during attacks against Ukrainian civilians.
These claims have not been independently verified.
The Ukrainian president also addressed Belarus’s oil-refining capabilities, alleging that the country has become a major supplier to Russia and that Lukashenko has the power to stop this practice.
“Today, he is the largest supplier, or among the main suppliers, to the Russian military. Specifically Lukashenko, specifically Belarus,” Zelensky said.
“Can this be stopped? I am certain it is within his power. He is the one who controls it,” he added.
Kyiv has intensified strikes against Russian oil infrastructure and storage facilities, often targeting sites deep inside Russian territory, including areas near Moscow. These attacks have contributed to supply shortages and rising prices for Russian civilians.
Under Lukashenko’s leadership, Belarus has remained a close military ally of Russia and has supported Moscow’s war against Ukraine by providing logistical assistance and echoing Kremlin threats toward NATO. However, Belarus has not formally joined Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Like Russia, Belarus has faced extensive sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries. Nevertheless, Lukashenko has made efforts to improve relations with Washington, including the release of some imprisoned opposition figures and political detainees, although many remain incarcerated in Belarus.
Lukashenko has been in power since 1994. He retained his position following the 2020 presidential election, declaring victory despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud from the Belarusian opposition and Western governments.
