Russia-Belarus: Allies Or Not?

Russia and Belarus have a close relationship, with the two countries sharing a land border and constituting the supranational Union State. Belarus has been described as a crucial ally of Russia, and the two countries have cooperated in the economic, political, and military spheres. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, with Belarus allowing Russian troops to stage part of the invasion from its territory. This action drew widespread condemnation from Western countries, with sanctions being imposed on Belarus.

Russia and Belarus have a history of close economic and political ties

Russia is Belarus's largest and most important economic and political partner. Russia accounts for more than half of Belarus's foreign trade, and the two countries have strong economic ties in areas such as energy, transport, and industry. They are also members of various international organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The two countries have a history of cooperating militarily, with Russia operating several military bases and radars in Belarus. In 2022, Russia was permitted to stage part of its invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory, and Belarus allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory. However, there have also been tensions between the two countries, with Belarus at times drifting away from Russia and pursuing its economic and political interests. Despite this, Russia and Belarus have a long history of close ties and continue to coordinate their foreign policies and military activities.

Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to invade Ukraine

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported its eastern neighbour in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before the invasion, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory. However, the Russian troops did not leave after the drills were supposed to finish. Belarus 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 did not appear to have sent its own soldiers into the conflict. On the day of the invasion, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported about Russian troops trying to break through the Belarus-Ukraine border at the Vilcha border crossing. A helicopter without identification marks attacked a bridge near Slavutych. Belarusian media and Telegram channels circulated numerous videos and photos showing the movement of Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters in southern Belarus.

Belarus also allowed Russia full access to its military airbases for Russian military aircraft to launch aircraft and its army installations to shoot artillery and missiles from its territory towards its southern neighbour, or to cross its border southbound. Already on 24 February, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief reported that four ballistic missiles were launched from Belarus towards southwestern Ukraine.

On 28 February, Belarusian opposition media outlet Charter 97 claimed that some Belarusian soldiers were among the wounded and killed invasion troops in Ukraine, citing anonymous Belarusian and Ukrainian sources. However, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, said that the Belarusian army had not taken part in the invasion thus far, stating that earlier claims of Belarusian involvement were based on Russian attempts to project the image of Belarusian aggression. There was no independent confirmation.

Belarus has also allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory and shoot at Ukrainian targets. Several reports emerged among the Belarusian opposition and Ukrainian military that Belarusian troops were in Ukraine fighting together with Russians, but Belarus's leader, Aleksander Lukashenko, dismissed them 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.

The involvement of Belarus was condemned in Western countries, with the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan imposing sanctions against Belarus. According to Chatham House, Belarus's participation in the military conflict is unpopular among the general population; protests were held on 27 February, the day of the constitutional referendum, but were quickly dispersed.

Belarus has been accused of abducting and deporting Ukrainian children

Russia and Belarus share a land border and constitute the supranational Union State. Belarus has been a key ally of Russia in the war with Ukraine, with President Alexander Lukashenko allowing the Kremlin to use his country's territory to invade Ukraine.

The deportation of civilians to Belarus has followed a similar "fact pattern" as those to Russia, according to a senior U.S. government official. The arrival of groups of hundreds of children from eastern Ukraine to Belarus has been documented in the country's state media, but the fate of these children is largely unknown. Belarusian Paralympic athlete Alexei Talai, a strong supporter of the regime, publicly organised the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus as early as August 2021, with the backing of Lukashenko.

The deportations to Belarus have been funded by the Union State, an economic and political union between Moscow and Minsk. The children are reportedly from a variety of backgrounds, including orphans, children with disabilities, those from impoverished families, and those living in children's homes.

The Geneva Conventions, which serve as the backbone of international humanitarian law, provide detailed provisions regarding the treatment and evacuation of children in wartime. The deportations to Russia and Belarus are a flagrant violation of those principles, according to experts.

In addition to the alleged abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, Belarus has arrested hundreds of people for showing solidarity with Ukraine during the war. At least 1,671 Belarusians have been detained for their anti-war stance or for expressing solidarity with Ukraine, according to a report by the Viasna human rights center. At least 200 of those detained have been given prison sentences ranging from one to 25 years on charges of "extremism" and "conspiracy against the state."

Russia and Belarus have close military relations

Russia and Belarus have long shared a close military relationship. Both countries are members of the supranational Union State, which was established in 1999. This union was formed with the aim of creating a USSR-like federation with a shared government, currency, flag, and army.

Russia operates several military bases and radars in Belarus, including the Hantsavichy Radar Station, an early warning radar run by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, and the Vileyka VLF transmitter, a naval communications centre. In addition, Russia has extended agreements on two military facilities in Belarus: an early warning radar in the Brest region near Poland, and a naval communications centre in Vileyka, near Minsk.

In recent years, Russia and Belarus have conducted joint military drills, and in 2019, the countries' leaders, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, declared that their countries "could unite tomorrow, no problem". This plan has been interpreted by some as a scheme by Putin to remain in power beyond 2024.

Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, has emphasised the importance of a "coordinated defence policy, cooperation in the development of armed forces, an increase in coordination and combat training, and a shared use of military infrastructure" between the two countries. This stance is shared by Lukashenko, who has repeatedly described Belarus as a "bulwark against the West" and called for stronger defence ties with Russia.

The close military relationship between Russia and Belarus was evident in February 2022, when Russian forces were permitted to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory. Lukashenko stated that Belarusian troops could also take part in the invasion if needed.

Russia is Belarus's largest and most important economic and political partner

The strategic partnership between Belarus and Russia is based on geographic location, close historical and cultural links, and economic ties between businesses. In 1999, the two countries signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, which set a legal basis for integration. The agreement outlined several major goals, including ensuring peaceful and democratic development, establishing a single economic and customs area, and pursuing agreed-upon foreign, defence, and social policies.

Russia accounts for more than half of Belarus's foreign trade, and the two countries have been developing cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, and industrial cooperation. They have also set up a joint regional military force and coordinate their air defence systems.

In recent years, there have been tensions in the relationship, with Belarus accusing Russia of attempting to incorporate it into Russia and cutting economic subsidies. However, the two countries have continued to cooperate in various areas, and Russia remains Belarus's most important partner.

In the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Belarus has been a close ally of Russia, allowing Russian forces to stage part of the invasion from its territory. Belarus has also permitted Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its soil and has supported Russia in the United Nations.

Frequently asked questions