Ukrainian Air Force confirms Shahed incursions into Belarus

July 16, Pozirk. Ukrainian air defenses downed two Shahed attack drones on July 15 and 16, while the two others went missing in Belarusian airspace, the Ukrainian Air Force reported without specifying the launch site of the unmanned aircraft.

Iranian-designed Shaheds are in service with the Russian army.

Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing the Ukrainian Air Force and the Telegram channel Biełaruski Hajun, that a drone entered Belarusian airspace at 8:40 a.m. this morning and headed toward Naroŭla, Homiel region.

The news website added that a Belarusian Mi-24 helicopter took off at 9:10 a.m. from the Mačuliščy airfield in the Minsk region, and a Su-30 fighter aircraft took off at 9:15 a.m. from Baranavičy, Brest region.

“A drone is circling over Belarus and has flown more than 300 km in total,” the website said. “This is the fourth kamikaze drone that has entered Belarusian airspace since July 11, and the second on July 16.”

The website reported that in the early hours of July 16, another Shahed entered Belarus near the village of Biełaja Saroka and headed to Chojniki, Homiel region.

“Next, the UAV made a turn to the southeast and, bypassing Brahin, headed toward the urban settlement of Kamaryn (Homiel Region),” the article reads.

It noted that “the drone left Belarus and returned to the territory of Ukraine at 5 a.m.”

The Belarusian government, which supports Russia in its war against Ukraine, has not commented on the incursions.

On July 13, Alaksandar Łukašenka ordered commanders to withdraw troops from the southern border. He said that Ukraine also pulled back some of its troops from the Belarusian border after Belarus had taken unspecified measures.

Today he claimed that military commanders of Belarus and Ukraine has ironed out some differences.