Ukraine reinforces northern border amid possible Belarus involvement — The Guardian
Photo: The threat from Belarus is becoming increasingly real (Getty Images)
Ukraine is strengthening its defenses along its northern border amid fears that Belarus could be drawn even further into the war on Russia’s side. Fortifications are already being reinforced, and the military is closely monitoring the activity of troops and drones near the border, according to The Guardian.
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian military officials have recorded an approximately 20 percent increase in the activity of Russian reconnaissance drones operating from Belarusian territory.
There are also reports of new Russian drone bases appearing near the Belarusian border and the expansion of infrastructure that could potentially be used to support Russian operations.
Despite this, Ukrainian and European analysts currently see no signs of a strike force being assembled in Belarus for a new offensive against Ukraine. At the same time, they warn against Minsk’s gradual integration into the Russian military machine.
According to The Guardian, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba suspect that Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko may be preparing for deeper involvement in the war.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine is reinforcing its northern front with anti-tank barriers, barbed wire, and additional surveillance capabilities.
The agency notes that the main threat to Kyiv lies not so much in the direct entry of the Belarusian army into combat operations as in the transformation of Belarus into a stable springboard for Russian operations against Ukraine.
Experts also believe that the Kremlin’s strategy may not involve a sharp escalation, but rather a gradual expansion of Belarus’s role in the war, which creates additional risks to the security of Ukraine and the entire region.
Background
Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Minsk has regularly provided Russian troops with infrastructure and logistical support, although Lukashenko has repeatedly assured that the Belarusian army would not take direct part in combat operations.
In recent months, Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly reported on Russia’s attempts to strengthen its military presence on Belarusian territory and use it to exert pressure on Ukraine. Against this backdrop, Kyiv continues to strengthen its defenses along its northern border.
