In the former Soviet republic of Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko has now admitted that anti-war activists sabotaged a Russian reconnaissance plane at an airport near the capital Minsk. The mastermind and more than 20 helpers were arrested, Lukashenko said today in Minsk, according to state news agency Belta.
At the end of February, Belarusian activists themselves reported an attack on the Russian plane. They claimed that they dropped explosive devices on the plane from two drones. The leadership in Minsk initially described this as disinformation.
damaged by drone
Lukashenko has now confirmed that the A-50 aircraft at Machulishchi airbase was slightly damaged by a small Chinese-made drone sold in ordinary stores. The aircraft is still functional. “However, we asked the Russians to take this plane back for a technical check and send us another one,” Lukashenko said.
In addition to the more than 20 people arrested, there are other participants who are hiding abroad, Lukashenko said without providing any evidence. Among the suspects in custody is a man with computer skills and a Russian and Ukrainian passport. He allegedly lived on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and was recruited by the secret service in Kiev for acts of sabotage.
Lukashenko accused Ukraine of having planned the attack for a long time – which Kiev denies. Ukraine sees Belarus as a war party because Lukashenko is letting the Russian armed forces take over military bases for attacks on the neighboring country.