In Belarus, government opponents say they destroyed a Russian early warning jet with drones. According to the information, the attack took place at an airfield near the capital Minsk.
The front and middle part of the Beriev A-50 and its radar antenna were damaged by two explosions yesterday, the Belarusian association Bypol announced today. The organization includes former Belarusian police officers who turned their backs on the regime following the controversial presidential election in 2020.
“They were drones”
An adviser to the exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya spoke of the most successful act of sabotage in a year. “They were drones,” Bypol director Alexander Azarov was quoted as saying by the Polish news channel Belsat. And further: “The participants in the operation were Belarusians.” They are now out of the country in safety. The information cannot be independently verified.
Comments are pending
So far, there has been no statement from the Russian or Belarusian side. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine began a year ago, there have been several incidents of sabotage in Belarus and Russian regions bordering Ukraine. The main goal was the railway network. Belarus is a close ally of Russia.
While the country is not directly involved in the war in neighboring Ukraine, it does allow Russian troops to use its territory. In addition, the two allies have set up a joint military unit in Belarus and held numerous joint exercises. Several Russian military aircraft and air reconnaissance aircraft have been stationed in Belarus.
