February 18, Pozirk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced on Telegram that Ukraine imposed sanctions against Alaksandar Łukašenka.
Ukraine is intensifying efforts to counter what it describes as all forms of Łukašenka’s support for actions contributing to the killing of Ukrainians, he said, adding that Kyiv would work with international partners to ensure a global response.
The Ukrainian president cited the deployment of a Russian repeater system for controlling strike drones on Belarusian territory in the second half of 2025, saying it increased the Russian army’s ability to target Ukraine’s northern regions, including Kyiv and Volyn.
“The Russians would not have been able to carry out some of the attacks, in particular on energy facilities and railways in our regions, without such assistance from Belarus,” Zelensky said. “More than 3,000 Belarusian enterprises are serving the Russian war effort and supplying machinery, equipment and components classified as critical. This includes parts used in the production of missiles that terrorize our cities and villages.”
Belarusian authorities continue to expand the infrastructure for the deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik missile system, which threatens both Ukraine and Europe, the politician noted. Last year, Belarusian companies reportedly supplied Russia with critical components and mechanical bases for these weapons and are likely to continue in 2026, he added.
Earlier this year, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja met Zelensky in Vilnius for the first time. The meeting and an invitation to visit Kyiv signal a clear shift in Ukraine’s stance, the politician noted, indicating that Ukraine is now prepared to engage with Belarusian pro-democracy forces after years of caution.
In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which the Belarusian authorities supported the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.
