Discovering Belarus' Unique Location In Europe

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, spanning an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided into six administrative regions. Minsk, the largest city, is the capital and is administered separately from the rest of the country.

Belarus is landlocked and bordered by five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It shares its borders with five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The country is located in the East European Platform and has a predominantly flat terrain, intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes.

Russia borders Belarus to the east and northeast. The two countries have close economic and political ties, with Belarus depending on Russia for energy supplies and raw materials. In 1999, they signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, which aimed to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. Belarus also allowed Russia to use its territory to launch attacks on Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion.

Ukraine is Belarus's southern neighbour. In terms of area, Belarus is roughly one-third the size of Ukraine. The Dnieper River, one of the major rivers in Belarus, flows through both countries.

Poland borders Belarus to the west. The two countries have had a tumultuous relationship, with Poland occupying parts of Belarus during the Polish-Soviet War (1918-1921) and World War II. After World War II, Belarus lost almost half of its territory to Poland.

Lithuania borders Belarus to the northwest and has historically had a significant influence on the region. Before the Russian Revolution in 1917, the lands of modern-day Belarus were controlled by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Latvia is another northwestern neighbour of Belarus. Treaties between the two countries in 1995 and 1996 demarcated their borders.

Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus

Minsk has suffered many disasters, including frequent destruction by fire, sacking by the Crimean Tatars in 1505, and occupation and damage by French troops in 1812. The city was almost entirely rebuilt after its near destruction in World War II. Minsk is the administrative centre of the Minsk Region and Minsk District and has a special administrative status in Belarus. As of 2024, it has a population of about two million, making it the 11th most populous city in Europe.

Minsk is a major industrial centre of Belarus, with its companies contributing more than a quarter to the national GDP. The city's industrial sector features companies producing machinery and equipment, food and beverages, electrical equipment, vehicles, construction materials, and pharmaceuticals. Minsk is also a major educational and cultural centre, with the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus, a university founded in 1921, and numerous other institutions of higher education.

The country is divided into six regions or oblasts: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev

Belarus is divided into six regions, or oblasts: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev. Each region has its own legislative and executive authorities, with the former elected by residents and the latter appointed by the president. These regions are further divided into 118 raions or districts, each with its own legislative council and executive committee.

The Brest Oblast is the western gateway to Belarus and the Eurasian Economic Union. It is home to landmarks such as the Brest Hero Fortress, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, and the Kossovo Palace.

Vitebsk Oblast, the oldest city in the country, is considered the cradle of Belarusian statehood. It hosts the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar and boasts attractions like the Braslav Lakes and Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk.

Gomel Oblast is the only region in Belarus producing oil. Notable sites include the Palace of the Rumyantsevs and Paskeviches, the Castle Hill in Turov, and the Neglubka weaving.

Grodno Oblast is implementing the country's largest innovative project, the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant. This region features attractions such as Mir Castle, the national landscape reserve Nalibokskaya, and the Struve Geodetic Arc.

Minsk Oblast, the largest region in Belarus, boasts a robust industry. Notable landmarks include BelAZ, Nesvizh Castle, the Khatyn Memorial Complex, and ski resorts in Logoisk and Silichi.

Mogilev Oblast, situated in eastern Belarus, is home to the city of Gorki, which houses the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, the oldest agricultural university in the CIS and Europe. Notable attractions include the Kupala Night Festival Alexandria Gathers Friends and the memorial Buinichi Field.

Belarus is a former Soviet republic, declaring independence in 1991

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, covering an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 square miles) and a population of around 9.1 million. Minsk, the country's capital and largest city, is home to about one-fifth of the population.

Belarus has a rich history, with its lands controlled by various states throughout the centuries, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Byelorussian SSR emerged and became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. During World War II, Belarus suffered devastating losses, with about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources destroyed.

On July 27, 1990, the parliament of the Byelorussian SSR proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus. However, it was not until August 25, 1991, during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, that Belarus officially gained its independence. This event marked a significant turning point in the country's history, ending its long association with the Soviet Union and paving the way for its emergence as an independent nation.

Following independence, Belarus adopted a new constitution in 1994, and Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the country's first president in its first and only free election. Lukashenko has maintained a highly centralized and authoritarian government, often drawing criticism for human rights violations and a lack of civil liberties. Despite this, Belarus has continued to foster close ties with Russia, signing a treaty in 1999 to create a politically integrated confederation.

Belarus's independence has had a profound impact on its political, social, and economic landscape. The country has retained its distinct ethnic identity and language, forging its path as a sovereign nation within the European context.

The country has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The country has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian.

Belarusian is an East Slavic language and is spoken in some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine by Belarusian minorities in those countries. It is one of the two official languages in Belarus, alongside Russian. Before Belarus gained independence in 1991, the language was known in English as Byelorussian or Belorussian, or alternatively as White Russian. Following independence, it became known as Belarusian, or alternatively as Belarusan.

As one of the East Slavic languages, Belarusian shares many grammatical and lexical features with other members of the group. To some extent, Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian retain a degree of mutual intelligibility. Belarusian descends from a language generally referred to as Ruthenian (13th to 18th centuries), which, in turn, descended from what is referred to as Old East Slavic (10th to 13th centuries).

In the first Belarusian census in 1999, the Belarusian language was declared as a "language spoken at home" by about 3,686,000 Belarusian citizens (36.7% of the population). About 6,984,000 (85.6%) of Belarusians declared it their "mother tongue". In Russia, the Belarusian language is declared as a "familiar language" by about 316,000 inhabitants, among them about 248,000 Belarusians, comprising about 30.7% of Belarusians living in Russia.

Russian is the other official language in Belarus. It is predominantly used in everyday life in today's Belarus. In the 1994-1995 academic year, 58% of students in the first classes of elementary school were taught in the Belarusian language in the capital city of Minsk. However, after Lukashenko's presidency in 1994, the number of these classes decreased. In 1999, only 5.3% of students in the first classes of elementary school were taught in the Belarusian language in Minsk.

In 2006, President Lukashenko made a controversial statement about the Belarusian language: "People who speak Belarusian cannot do anything, because nothing great can be expressed in Belarusian. The Belarusian language is a poor language. There are only two great languages in the world: Russian and English."

Frequently asked questions