Belarus reportedly deployed an aircraft to intercept and shoot down a Russian drone that entered its airspace. This marks the first time Belarus has used aviation to take down a Shahed drone, according to the Belarusian Hajun Project, an open-source intelligence group that tracks military activities in the country. The Iranian-made Shahed drones, often referred to as "kamikaze drones," have been used by Russia to strike civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
Although Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarus has not been directly involved in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, Belarusian territory has been used for staging attacks.
The Hajun Project reported that the drone entered Belarusian airspace in the Homiel (Gomel) region around 3:30 a.m., leading to the deployment of a Belarusian Air Force fighter jet. Within half an hour, explosions were heard in the Yelsk district, accompanied by a bright flash in the sky.
The incident is believed to be the first recorded attempt by a Belarusian fighter jet to engage a military target in the sky. A spokesperson for the Hajun Project told *Newsweek* that there were no further details on the drone, but noted that Belarus has been regularly deploying aircraft to monitor drones entering its airspace. This was the first time, however, that an aircraft successfully shot one down.
The Hajun Project also noted increased air patrols by the 61st Fighter Air Base at Baranovichi airfield, particularly in the southern region near the Ukrainian border. Both the Belarusian and Russian defense ministries have been contacted for comment.
Former Ukrainian interior affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko and the pro-Ukrainian X account Saint Javelin both highlighted the event, with Saint Javelin speculating that Lukashenko might face pressure from Putin following the incident.
Despite the drone's interception, analysts and opposition figures like Frank Viačorka, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, suggest that Belarusian troops do not currently pose an immediate threat to Ukraine.
Viačorka argued that the Belarusian people and military are largely uninterested in joining Russia's war, and Lukashenko's involvement could be politically disastrous for him. He warned that the country was on the brink of unrest, and further involvement in the conflict could lead to Lukashenko's downfall.
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