Belarus' Neighbors: Exploring The Bordering Countries

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people and spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is the administrative centre of the Minsk region and serves as the country's political, economic, scientific, and cultural hub.

Russia is to the east and northeast of Belarus

Russia is one of six countries that share a border with Belarus. The others are Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and, to a lesser extent, Estonia. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and has a population of 9.1 million.

Russia lies to the east and northeast of Belarus. The distance between the two countries is 679 kilometres. Russia is Belarus's most dominant neighbour, and the two countries have close diplomatic and trade ties. In 1999, they signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, which aimed to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. In 2000, the two countries signed another treaty for greater cooperation, forming the Union State.

The legacy of Belarus's Soviet past also continues to manifest in its close relationship with Russia. About one-fifth of the population of Belarus resides in the capital, Minsk, which is the country's political, economic, scientific, and cultural centre. Minsk is a modern city that was almost entirely rebuilt after its near destruction in World War II.

Ukraine borders Belarus to the south

The border between Belarus and Ukraine has been a site of military tension in recent years. In February 2022, Russian troops crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine as part of the Kyiv offensive. In April 2022, Ukrainian troops regained control of sections of the border. In November 2023, Ukraine began constructing a wall along the border. Belarus has also deployed troops and aircraft to the border, with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko announcing in October 2024 that he had sent nearly one-third of his country's armed forces to the border with Ukraine.

Poland is west of Belarus

Poland is one of the countries that Belarus lost territory to after the Polish-Soviet War (1918-1921). Belarus lost almost half of its land to Poland during this time. The borders of Belarus were largely finalised after World War II.

Poland and Belarus have a shared history, with both countries having been part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was created in 1569 by the Union of Lublin. The Commonwealth united the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which included Belarus, in a political and military union.

In modern times, Poland has not recognised Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus following the disputed 2020 election. Poland has allotted a residence for opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other members of the Belarusian opposition in its capital, Warsaw.

Lithuania and Latvia are northwest of Belarus

Lithuania and Latvia are two of the closest countries to Belarus, with distances of 170km and 4,698km from the Belarusian capital of Minsk, respectively. Lithuania is also home to the Nesvizh Castle, the residential castle of the Radziwiłł, a Polish-Lithuanian noble family. The Palace Ensemble of the Radziwiłłs is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people and spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi). Minsk, the capital and largest city, is the political, economic, scientific, and cultural centre of the country. Belarus has a cool continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. The country is home to a fascinating selection of rare plant and animal species, as well as several national parks.

Belarus is landlocked

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is the largest landlocked country situated entirely in Europe, with an area of 207,600 to 208,000 square kilometres. It is slightly smaller than the island of Great Britain and somewhat smaller than the US state of Kansas. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is located centrally and is home to about one-fifth of the country's population of 9.1 to 9.4 million.

Belarus has a diverse geography, characterised by wide, natural rivers and large areas of marshy land. The country is crossed in the northwest by terminal moraines, chains of low, rolling hills known as the Belarusian Ridge. The highest point, Dzyarzhynskaya Hill, is only 345 to 346 metres above sea level, and more than half of Belarus lies below 200 metres. The country has more than 20,000 streams, with a total length of about 56,300 miles, and more than 10,000 lakes. The biggest rivers include the Dnepr, Bjaresina, Pripyat, and Memel. In the south of Belarus are the Pinsk Marshes, a vast natural region of wetlands along the forested basin of the Pripyat River and its tributaries.

Belarus has a cool continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures range from about −4 °C in the southwest to about −8 °C in the northeast, while maximum temperatures in July are generally around 18 °C. Rainfall is moderate, ranging from about 530 mm on the lowlands to about 700 mm on the higher morainic ridges.

Belarus has a unique natural environment, with about 40% of the country covered in forest. It is host to a fascinating selection of rare plant and animal species and several National Parks. The Belovezhskaya Forest, on the border with Poland, is one of the largest surviving areas of primeval mixed forest in Europe. It is home to the European bison, or wisent, as well as elk, deer, and boars.

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