Putin uses Belarus as staging ground for potential strikes and military scenarios - ISW
Photo: Putin prepares a staging ground in Belarus (Getty Images)
Belarus continues to serve as a staging ground for Russian strikes on Ukraine and potential attacks on NATO, as confirmed by recent drone strikes on the railway infrastructure in Ukraine's western regions, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"Russia will likely continue to develop its military capabilities in Belarus to support its military operations in Ukraine and set conditions to use Belarus for any future military contingency with NATO," ISW analysts said.
Recent data indicate that Russian Shahed drones are targeting railway facilities in western Ukraine, with launches conducted from Belarus to bypass Ukrainian drone interception systems.
On December 26, a strike hit the Kovel railway station in the Volyn region, damaging a locomotive, a freight wagon, and a locomotive depot. Recently, drones destroyed a freight train near Korosten in the Zhytomyr region, causing both freight and passenger trains to derail.
Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov noted that the drone operator could have been on Belarusian territory, using FPV control to target moving objects.
ISW emphasizes that Belarus has effectively become a base for Russian military operations, from the full-scale invasion in 2022 to current attacks.
ISW analysts and electronic warfare experts note that Shahed drones are launched not only from Russia but also remotely from Belarus, increasing risks to both freight and passenger rail transport.
This trend highlights Belarus's growing role in Kremlin military planning and its threat to regional security.
Belarus as a Russian staging ground
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia is using Belarus to bypass Ukrainian drone interception systems, explaining the rise in attacks on western regions.
Recently, Russian forces struck the railway station in Kovel, damaging a locomotive and a freight car.
Zelenskyy also said that Russia has deployed equipment in Belarus to target residential buildings in Ukraine, using it to guide Shahed kamikaze drones to their targets.
