A top security official in Belarus made a bold claim on Thursday, stating that the country had successfully prevented attempted drone strikes originating from Lithuania targeting the Belarusian capital and its surrounding areas. Ivan Tertel, the head of the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB), asserted during a session of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly that recent security operations had averted potential attacks by combat drones from Lithuanian territory on key locations in Minsk and its suburbs.
Tertel did not provide concrete evidence or elaborate on the specifics of the alleged drone threats. He also suggested that 'radicals' in Lithuania and Poland were involved in the production of drones intended for attacks on Belarus. The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, which comprises officials, local council members, unions, and pro-government activists, operates alongside the parliament.
In response to Tertel's claims, Lithuania promptly denied the allegations. A Lithuanian military spokesman dismissed the assertions as baseless, labeling them as 'nonsense.' The Lithuanian crisis management center issued a statement characterizing the remarks as a domestic propaganda tactic by Belarus, devoid of any factual basis.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has seen increased military cooperation with Moscow, including the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons and troops within its borders. President Alexander Lukashenko has consistently emphasized Belarus's readiness to repel any potential attacks from Ukraine or NATO member states.
Despite Belarus not directly participating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the country has served as a logistical hub for Russian forces entering northern Ukraine. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, currently in exile in Lithuania, expressed skepticism regarding the alleged drone threat, suggesting that Lukashenko may be propagating misinformation.
The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly unanimously approved new national security measures and a military doctrine proposed by Lukashenko, aimed at regulating the use of Russian nuclear capabilities. While Lukashenko touted these initiatives as bolstering Belarus's defense capabilities, analysts view them as primarily rhetorical gestures to secure additional support from Russia.
Independent Belarusian analyst Valery Karbalevich interpreted Lukashenko's recent statements as a strategic move to align with the Kremlin's agenda and secure financial backing under the guise of countering perceived Western threats.
