Key facts
- Russia may use Belarus to intensify missile and drone attacks on western Ukraine.
- Russia is using drone signal repeaters in Belarus.
- Russia's 101st Missile Brigade, equipped with Oreshnik ballistic missiles, deployed to Belarus in September.
- Recent Russian attacks on western Ukraine have caused deaths, injuries, and power outages.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on October 17 that Russia may leverage Belarus to escalate missile and drone assaults on western Ukraine. He indicated that Russia is already employing drone signal repeaters in Belarus and suggested that President Vladimir Putin requires the cooperation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to deploy additional ballistic missiles in the country.