Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Belarus today, fuelling Ukrainian fears that he intends to pressure his ally to join a new offensive, as Russian drones attacked Kyiv in the latest assault targeting key infrastructure.
Officials in Kyiv have warned for months that neighbouring Belarus could join Russian forces and serve as a launching pad for a renewed ground attack on the Ukrainian capital.
Belarus – one of Russia’s closest allies – allowed its territory to be used as a launch-pad for Moscow but has not joined the fighting directly.
Russian troops that were moved to Belarus in October will conduct battalion tactical exercises.
It was not immediately clear when and where in Belarus the latest in a flurry of recent exercises will be conducted.
Today, Russian air raids hit critical infrastructure in and around Kyiv while Air defence systems destroyed about 15 of 20 drones directed at the capital.
