Łukašenka wishes Ukrainians “peaceful skies” on Independence Day

August 24, BPN. Today’s “contradictions” will not destroy “the centuries-old foundations of sincere good neighborly relations between the peoples of the two countries,” reads Alaksandr Łukašenka’s message to the Ukrainian people on Independence Day, August 24.

“Belarus will continue to stand up for the preservation of concord, development of friendly and mutually respectful contacts at all levels,” the message says.

Łukašenka wishes Ukrainians “peaceful skies, tolerance, courage, strength and success in restoring a decent life.”

In mid-August, Belaruski Hajun project that tracks movements of Russian troops in Belarus, warned of a possible massive Russian attack on Ukraine in the coming weeks citing its analysis of Russian military hardware at the Ziabraŭka airfield in the Homiel region of Belarus.

On August 16, Russia attacked a military airfield in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region with two X-59 missiles from a Su-34 fighter bomber, which took off from Belarus’ territory.

On the same day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ commander-in-chief, Gen Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, said the deployment of missile systems along the Belarus border was a concern. He specifically pointed at the Ziabraŭka airfield.

Ukraine does not rule out that Russia might launch a massive attack on August 24, timed to coincide with Independence Day.

On February 24, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.

A 20,000-strong grouping of Russian forces crossed into Ukraine from Belarus at the outset of the war, Alaksandr Łukašenka told AFP in an interview on July 21. Russian troops retreated from northern Ukraine later.