Russian military aircraft blown up near Minsk: Belarusian partisans

Anti-government activists in Belarus claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a Russian A-50 surveillance plane in an airspace near the Belarus capital Minsk on Sunday.

The participants in the operation are Belarusians. This information was given on the organization's Telegram messaging app and on the Poland-based Belsat news channel, citing the leader of the Belarusian anti-government organization BYPOL, Aliksandr Azarov. They are now safe and out of the country. 

No comment from Russia or Belarus

News agency Reuters said it could not independently verify reports of the attack. There was no official confirmation from Russia or Belarus, and there was no immediate response from their defense ministries to a request for comment. 

Belsat declared extremist and BYPOL declared terrorist organization

Belsat is a Polish broadcaster with a focus on Belarusian news. Minsk calls it extremist. At the same time, BYPOL has been termed as a terrorist organization. This includes former law enforcement officers who support opposition politicians.

Belarus opposition leader tweeted

"I am proud of all Belarusians who continue to resist the Russian hybrid occupation of Belarus and who are fighting for the independence of Ukraine," tweeted Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

I am proud of all Belarusians who continue to resist the Russian hybrid occupation of Belarus & fight for the freedom of Ukraine. Your brave actions show the world that Belarus stands against imperial aggression. Glory to our heroes! https://t.co/cechjiHolb — Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) February 26, 2023

Svetlana's advisor Frank Viakorka made a post on Twitter. In it, he said that it was the most successful attempt foiled since the beginning of 2022.

Downed russian plane

BYPOL reported that two explosions occurred in the attack on the Mchulishchi air base near Minsk. Due to this, the radar antenna was damaged along with the forward and middle parts of the aircraft. The NATO reporting name of the Beriev A-50 aircraft is Mainstay.

It is a Russian airborne early warning aircraft with airborne command and control capabilities. It can track 60 targets at a time. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago, there have been numerous acts of sabotage in Belarus and in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. Especially on the railway system.

Russian joint military unit in Belarus

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has not directly participated in Russia's war on Ukraine. However, he had allowed his army to use the area as a staging ground at the start of the invasion a year earlier.

Russia and Belarus have established a joint military unit in Belarus and have held several exercises. Several Russian warplanes and airborne early warning and control aircraft have been deployed to Belarus.