Belarusian air defence downs 13 Ukrainian drones

On August 9, Belarusian air defence forces successfully intercepted and shot down 13 drones originating from Ukraine over the Mogilev region.

Colonel Andrei Bogodel, deputy head of the General Staff Faculty at the Military Academy of Belarus, confirmed the incident in an interview with Belarus media, Caliber.Az reports.

Colonel Bogodel described the downing of the drones, which occurred near Kostyukovichi, as an attempt by Ukraine to portray Belarus negatively on the international stage. He suggested that the drones were used to undermine Belarus's image and demonstrate that Ukraine was acting with impunity.

Bogodel also addressed Ukrainian claims that no drones had crossed into Belarusian airspace. He disputed these statements, emphasizing that the Ukrainian denials and claims of misidentification, such as suggesting that helicopters and aircraft were responsible for the incident, were inaccurate. He asserted that the situation involved drones, not helicopters or aircraft, contrary to what Ukraine had suggested.

"Belarus will fully exercise its right to self-defence and respond to any provocations or hostile actions," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry warned in a comment after Ukrainian drones flew into the republic’s airspace as it accused Ukraine of provocations which it said were instigated by external players.

"The Ukrainian leadership is taking such steps clearly at the connivance or even instigation of well-known external players," the ministry said. "Naturally, Belarus will fully use the right to self-defence and respond duly to any provocations or hostile actions," it warned.