Belarus-Russia: Allies Or Enemies In Ukraine War?

Belarus has been a key ally of Russia in the war against Ukraine, with President Alexander Lukashenko allowing the Kremlin to use his country's territory to invade Ukraine and deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons. Belarus has also served as a base for Russian military operations and a supplier of military hardware, munitions, and military components. The involvement of Belarus in the conflict has drawn condemnation from Western countries, with the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan imposing sanctions. Despite Lukashenko's assurances that he would not involve his country's armed forces in the conflict, there have been reports of Belarusian troops fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine.

Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to invade Ukraine

Belarus has been a close ally of Russia and supported its eastern neighbour in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before the start of the offensive, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory. However, the Russian troops did not leave Belarus after the drills were supposed to finish. Belarus also allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its territory, giving Russia the shortest possible land route to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

In the initial stages of the conflict, Belarus lent its territory to Russian soldiers to attack Ukraine, but there is no evidence that it sent its own soldiers into the conflict. On the day of the invasion, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that Russian troops were trying to break through the Belarus-Ukraine border at the Vilcha border crossing. CNN also published a video showing tanks entering Ukraine through the Senkivka border crossing, on the tripoint with Russia.

Belarus allowed Russia full access to its military airbases, army installations, and border roads and railways. On 24 February, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief reported that four ballistic missiles were launched from Belarus towards southwestern Ukraine. Two days later, satellite images showed 150 helicopters and hundreds of ground vehicles stationed near Khoyniki, about 50 km from the Ukrainian border. Belarusian media also circulated videos and photos showing the movement of Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters in southern Belarus.

In March 2022, reports emerged that Belarusian troops were in Ukraine fighting alongside Russians. However, the Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, dismissed these claims and said that the Belarusian Armed Forces (BAF) would not participate directly in the conflict. As of early 2023, the BAF has not been involved in fighting against Ukraine and has remained on Belarusian territory during the entire course of the conflict.

Lukashenko has also allowed Russian nuclear weapons to be stationed in Belarus. In March 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would put tactical nuclear missiles in Belarus as a warning to anyone "thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on us".

Belarus has allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory

Belarus has been a close ally of Russia in the war against Ukraine. Before the start of the offensive, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform military drills on its territory. However, the Russian troops did not leave after the drills were supposed to finish. Belarus also allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its territory, giving Russia the shortest possible land route to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

Belarus has also allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory and shoot at Ukrainian targets. The Belarusian opposition and the Ukrainian military reported that Belarusian troops were in Ukraine, fighting alongside Russians. However, the Belarusian leader, Aleksander Lukashenko, denied these claims and said that the Belarusian Armed Forces (BAF) would not participate directly in the conflict. As of early 2023, the BAF has not been involved in fighting against Ukraine and has remained on Belarusian territory during the entire course of the conflict. Lukashenko has stated that he would not send soldiers into Ukraine unless Belarus was attacked first.

On December 19, 2022, Lukashenko announced the deployment of the S-400 and Iskander missile systems in Belarus. These missile systems are highly advanced and capable of striking targets with high precision. The S-400, nicknamed Triumf or Triumph, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system produced by Almaz-Antey. It is designed to engage various aerial targets, including aircraft, missiles, and even radar-picket ships. The Iskander, on the other hand, is a short-range tactical missile system developed and produced in Russia. It is designed for mobile, autonomous operation and can strike targets at ranges of 50-280 km, with a target accuracy of 5-7 meters.

The presence of these missile systems in Belarus has raised concerns among Western countries, who have imposed sanctions on Belarus for its involvement in the war. The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan have all taken measures against Belarus for its support of Russia. The involvement of Belarus in the war is also unpopular among the Belarusian general population, with protests being held and quickly dispersed.

Belarus has close military relations with Russia

Belarus and Russia have close military relations and are engaged in various joint military-scientific activities. Russia also operates several military bases and radars in Belarus, including the Hantsavichy Radar Station and the Vileyka VLF transmitter. The Hantsavichy Radar Station is an early warning radar run by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

In February 2022, Belarus allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from its territory. Belarus has also allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory and shoot at Ukrainian targets.

In March 2022, Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of Ukrainian Railways, stated that there was no longer a railway connection between Ukraine and Belarus, so Russian equipment from Belarus would not be deliverable. However, Belarus has also stated that Russia can bring its nuclear weapons onto Belarusian soil.

In February 2023, a Russian A-50 aircraft was reportedly damaged by explosions while stationed at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk. A Belarusian partisan group named "Plan Victory" claimed responsibility for the attack.

In March 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would be stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. This decision was made despite a joint Russian-Chinese declaration issued just days earlier, calling on nuclear powers to withdraw all nuclear weapons from abroad.

In August 2024, amidst Ukraine's offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast, Belarus announced the transfer of an Iskander missile, Polonez MLRS, and special forces to areas bordering Ukraine. This was followed by the Belarusian Defence Ministry's announcement that it was moving its tanks to reinforce the troop grouping on the Belarus-Ukraine border.

Belarus has been accused of involvement in war crimes

According to international humanitarian law, children in war zones should be evacuated to neutral third countries whenever possible. However, Belarus lent its territory to Russia to be used as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine. In a July 2023 interview with the Belarusian state TV channel, the head of the Belarus Red Cross, Dzmitry Shautsou, admitted to the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, stating that they were taken for "health improvement" reasons. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies distanced itself from Shautsou's statements and launched an investigation.

In February 2024, the European Union blacklisted Shautsou, along with several other individuals and organisations from Belarus, for their involvement in the Ukrainian child abductions. The United States, Ukraine, Australia, and New Zealand have also imposed sanctions in relation to the forced deportations.

Legal scholars have written that by aiding the Russian invasion, Belarus is complicit in the violation of the international prohibition against "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state" of the UN Charter. Belarus is also guilty of aggression according to the United Nations' definition, as it allowed its territory to be used by Russia to perpetrate an act of aggression.

Despite Belarus' involvement, the OSCE considered the country not to be a party to the international armed conflict in April 2022.

Belarus has arrested hundreds of people for their support of Ukraine

At least 200 of those detained have been given prison sentences of one to 25 years on charges of "extremism" and "conspiracy against the state". Among those sentenced are a 16-year-old student, a Ukrainian official, and people with relatives in Belarus.

The Viasna human rights centre also reported that at least 12 Ukrainians in Belarus have been convicted on charges of "extremism" and purported links to Ukrainian security agencies. They have been given prison terms.

The Belarusian authorities have intensified their crackdown on dissent ahead of a presidential election in January 2025, in which current President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for over 30 years and has relied on Moscow's subsidies and support.

On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry launched anti-riot drills, signalling the government's intolerance of any protests. The crackdown comes after massive protests following the disputed 2020 election, in which Lukashenko was widely accused of fraud. Authorities responded by arresting about 65,000 people, with major opposition figures either imprisoned or forced to flee the country.

Human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners, many of whom are being denied adequate medical care and contact with their families. The crackdown has escalated in recent weeks, with hundreds arrested in raids targeting relatives and friends of political prisoners and participants in online chats organised by residents of apartment buildings in various cities.

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