{"id":188262,"date":"2026-05-20T15:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188262\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:38:03","slug":"russia-mulls-offensive-from-belarus-ukraines-top-commander-warns","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188262\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia mulls offensive from Belarus, Ukraine\u2019s top commander warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 20, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>A Russian offensive from Belarusian territory is possible, and Ukraine knows that the General Staff of Russia\u2019s Armed Forces is actively weighing its options and planning offensive operations from there, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said in an interview with Militarnyi<\/em> published on May 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He actually echoed recent remarks by the Ukrainian president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 15, following a meeting with Ukraine\u2019s top military brass, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian intelligence had detected attempts to persuade Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka \u201cto join new Russian aggressive operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zelensky warned that Moscow considers operations \u201cto the south and north of Belarus \u2013 either against Ukraine\u2019s Chernihiv\u2013Kyiv region or against one of the NATO countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUkraine possesses details of the conversation between Russia and Belarus,\u201d Zelensky said. \u201cUkraine will certainly defend itself and its people if [Alaksandar] \u0141uka\u0161enka makes a mistake and decides to support this Russian intention. I have instructed Ukraine\u2019s defense and security forces to strengthen the relevant sector and present a plan for our response.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 18, the Belarusian defense ministry announced the launch of a drill in which Belarus and Russia would rehearse the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparations for their use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Russian defense ministry said in a statement the following day, during the joint Belarusian\u2013Russian drill that kicked off in Russia on May 19, troops will rehearse the use of nuclear weapons deployed in the territory of Belarus. The maneuvers reportedly focus on \u201ctraining and the use of nuclear forces\u201d to deal with the \u201cthreat of aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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