"Unfortunately, there are hits to both generation and transmission facilities, i.e. Lukashenko's government has claimed on numerous occasions that Ukrainian drones and missiles have entered its territory, sometimes without providing evidence.īelarus helped Russia launch its initial invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, allowing the Kremlin’s troops to enter the country through the Ukrainian-Belarusian border north of Kyiv. ���But don’t forget Russia is our ally - legally, morally and politically,” he added. Human rights group Amnesty last year called the law the "latest display of Belarusian authorities’ profound disregard for human rights.”īelarus' role in the Ukraine war: Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in February that “there is no way we are going to send our troops to Ukraine unless you are going to commit aggression against Belarus.” (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images)īelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday signed a law introducing the death penalty for “state treason” committed by government and military officials, state news agency Belta reported.Īdditionally, the law introduces criminal liability for “propaganda” of terrorism, discrediting of the country’s armed forces, other troops and military formations, paramilitary organizations, and violation of requirements for the protection of state secrets.īelarus’ parliament last year passed a bill that would impose the death penalty for “high treason, in order to prevent” possible actions by “destructive elements” in the country, which Lukashenko signed into law on Thursday. This could cause refugees to stay away and businesses to withhold investing in the country, Rodnyansky said.īelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko meets with foreign media at his residence in Minsk, Belarus on February 16, 2023. "They're sending a very strong signal to everyone in Ukraine - and to perhaps some of our refugees outside of Ukraine - that life is very far from returning to normal despite the fact that over recent weeks there was more quiet," he said. Rodnyansky outlined what he saw as the Kremlin's tactical, economic and political objectives for Thursday's strikes, including what he described as "economic terrorism." They are using new types of weapons, and they are seeing how our air defense systems can cope with it," said Alexander Rodnyansky, an economic adviser to Zelensky. Ukraine's air defense systems didn't withstand some of Russia's Kinzhal missiles, according to an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, following a widespread attack from Moscow on Thursday.Ī total of 84 missiles were fired on Ukrainian infrastructure, including six Kinzhal ballistic missiles that have the ability to elude Kyiv’s air defenses, the Ukrainian military said. Yurii Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Air Force Command of Ukraine, said they have "no capabilities to counter these weapons." The use of such a wide and unpredictable array of weaponry seemingly marks a shift in the Kremlin's strategy. However, six of the strikes involved Kinzhal ballistic missiles that eluded Kyiv's air defenses, the military said. A rare type of missile: Russia launched a total of 84 missiles over the last 24 hours, and Ukraine's air defenses intercepted 34 of them, the Ukrainian military said. Kyiv dismissed Moscow's claim the overnight assault on "peaceful cities and villages of Ukraine" was retaliatory. Russian security officials claimed a small Ukrainian armed group had crossed into Russia's Bryansk region last week. Russia's narrative: The Russian Ministry of Defense said the attack was retaliation for what the ministry called "terrorist actions" organized by Kyiv.President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly address, said six people were killed directly from missile strikes, describing it as a " difficult night" in Ukraine. Some of the strikes used advanced missiles that Ukrainian forces cannot shoot down. Wave of Russian strikes: At least 11 people are dead and more than 20 injured following a barrage of Russian strikes against critical infrastructure across Ukraine, according to regional authorities.
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