Belarus Scrambles Fighter Jets To Down Russian Shahed Drones

 

Belarus scrambled fighter jets on Thursday to intercept and down Russian Shahed drones over its southeastern Gomel region, as reported by the Belarusian Hajun Project, an independent military monitoring group. At around 1 a.m., two Shahed attack drones entered the area, which borders both Ukraine and Russia. In response, Belarus deployed fighter jets from its Baranovichi air base at three different times: 1:30 a.m., 2:20 a.m., and 3:10 a.m., according to the Hajun Project’s Telegram updates.

*Context

Shahed drones, made in Iran, have been a key weapon for Russia in its military campaign against Ukraine. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are frequently used to carry out strikes, and Belarus has found itself increasingly involved in the drone warfare spilling over from Ukraine. On August 29, the Hajun Project noted that Belarus had, for the first time, used its air force to intercept and shoot down a Shahed drone.

*What We Know

The Hajun Project stated that Shahed drones were shot down in the Gomel region, with witnesses hearing explosions. A video shared by the group allegedly shows drones "burning and falling from the sky over Gomel." Additionally, falling debris from the downed drones reportedly caused fires, although these claims have yet to be independently verified. Newsweek reached out to the Belarusian foreign ministry for confirmation, but no official comments have been made.

Belarus, a former Soviet republic and a close ally of Russia, has supported Moscow throughout the war in Ukraine, allowing Russian troops to conduct military operations from its territory. However, Belarusian forces have not directly entered the conflict. Russian troops launched their invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian soil two years ago, and Belarus continues to play a strategic role for Moscow.

*Views

Belarusian journalist and Atlantic Council fellow Hanna Liubakova pointed out on social media that the war in Ukraine is dangerously close to Belarus. She shared footage of the Shahed drones falling in Gomel and noted that Belarus’ notification system, installed in 2022, failed to warn residents in time.

*What’s Next?

According to the Hajun Project, the Belarusian military is now searching the border regions of Gomel for unexploded missiles likely used in the effort to down the Shahed drones.