Belarus confirms downing of Ukrainian drone on border
- 21 July, 15:57
Belarus on Monday said it downed a Ukrainian drone on the border between the two countries.
The Belarus border committee said the drone had violated the state border of Belarus from Ukrainian territory and was used for the reconnaissance of the border area. The committee downed the drone to the Dnipro River using electronic air defence systems after intercepting it in the Braginsky area in the south-eastern corner of Belarus, according to the committee.
The downing of the drone came days after the arrival of Wagner military company’s members in Belarus’ territory. Last week, Ukraine's border guard service confirmed that Wagner mercenaries arrived in Belarus from neighbouring Russia. According to unconfirmed reports, around sixty Wagner vehicles crossed the border into Belarus. Wagner group’s arrival in Moscow-ally country is in line with the deal that ended the short-lived mutiny of Wagner private military company headed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, which saw the troops march on Moscow. Under the agreement mediated by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenkko, Wagner fighters were told they could join either the regular Russian army or go to Belarus.
