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Zelenskiy Says Russia May Use Belarus to Launch Attack on Ukraine or NATO

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is trying to pull Belarus deeper into the ongoing war and could be planning military operations from Belarusian territory. Speaking after a meeting with military and intelligence officials, Zelenskiy said Ukraine had identified fresh contacts between Moscow and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko regarding possible new aggressive actions.

According to Zelenskiy, Russia may be considering attacks either toward Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv-Kyiv region or directly against a NATO member bordering Belarus. Belarus shares borders with NATO countries Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, raising concerns about broader regional security. However, Zelenskiy did not provide specific evidence or operational details regarding the alleged plans.

Belarus previously allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though it has not officially deployed its own troops in combat. Minsk has also hosted Russian tactical nuclear weapons and Oreshnik hypersonic missiles. Zelenskiy said Ukraine has ordered stronger defenses along its northern border and warned Belarus against supporting any new Russian military campaign.

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Italy Thwarts Russian Cyber-Attacks Ahead of Winter Olympics

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Italy has successfully blocked cyber-attacks of Russian origin targeting websites linked to the Winter Olympics, hotels in host town Cortina d’Ampezzo, and foreign ministry facilities, including an embassy in Washington. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the attacks were prevented before the Games officially begin on Friday.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of five Olympic host clusters, will stage alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, and sliding events. The attacks were aimed at disrupting digital operations surrounding the Games, but Italy’s cybersecurity measures ensured no critical systems were compromised.

Meanwhile, debates continue over the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions. Although both nations remain excluded from the Olympics, 13 Russian and seven Belarusian competitors have been cleared to compete as neutrals, amid discussions on potential reinstatement for future Games, including the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Lukashenko Says US Acknowledgment of 2020 Election Outcome Could Reset Ties

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said relations with the United States could improve if Washington acknowledges that efforts to overturn his 2020 re-election had failed. In an interview with U.S. outlet Newsmax, Lukashenko suggested that such an admission could serve as a starting point for renewed dialogue between the two countries.

Official results declaring Lukashenko re-elected to a sixth term in 2020 triggered mass protests in Belarus, with demonstrators alleging electoral fraud. Western nations refused to recognise the result, while Russia backed Lukashenko. The Belarusian leader responded to the unrest with widespread arrests, deepening tensions with the West.

The United States and its allies later imposed sanctions on Belarus over the election, human rights concerns and Minsk’s role in allowing Russia to use its territory to launch the invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, U.S. officials have engaged Belarus in recent years, including efforts to secure the release of detainees. Lukashenko said Belarus wanted constructive relations with Washington and even suggested the two sides could cooperate on international issues such as Venezuela.

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Lithuania Shuts Vilnius Airport Again Over Balloon Sightings

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Vilnius Airport in Lithuania halted flight operations for the second time on Wednesday after suspected balloons were detected in its airspace, airport authorities said. The country has witnessed repeated disruptions in recent months due to similar sightings. Officials claim the balloons are used by smugglers transporting cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus.

Lithuanian authorities have also accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of allowing the activity to continue, calling it a “hybrid attack.” Belarus, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly denied such claims, instead accusing Western nations of waging a hybrid war against Belarus and Russia.

Vilnius Airport, located roughly 30 kilometres from the Belarus border, has been forced to suspend operations more than ten times since early October because of balloon-related incidents. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the disruptions affect both security and passenger travel.

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Poland Accuses Russia of Crossing a Dangerous Line with Sabotage Acts

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage operations designed to destabilise Poland, calling the actions a form of “state terrorism”. His statement follows an explosion that damaged key railway tracks on the Warsaw–Lublin line over the weekend—a route linking Poland’s capital to the Ukrainian border. Tusk described the incident as an unprecedented assault on national security.

Authorities have identified two Ukrainian nationals as those responsible for the attack, alleging they collaborated with Russian intelligence before fleeing to Belarus. In response, Poland has requested their extradition, closed the last operating Russian consulate in Gdansk, and deployed thousands of soldiers to protect strategic infrastructure across the country.

Moscow has rejected the accusations and labelled Poland’s actions “Russophobia”, saying it will restrict Polish diplomatic presence in Russia. The explosion comes amid a broader increase in arson, sabotage, and cyberattacks across Europe since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, intensifying concerns about hybrid warfare tactics.

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Poland Shuts Last Russian Consulate, Blames Moscow for Railway Sabotage

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Poland announced on Wednesday that it will close Russia’s last remaining consulate on its territory, escalating its response to a railway explosion that Warsaw has blamed on Moscow. The blast, which occurred over the weekend on the Warsaw-Lublin line leading to the Ukrainian border, was allegedly carried out by two Ukrainians working with Russian intelligence. Polish authorities say the suspects fled to Belarus, a close ally of Russia.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the closure of the Russian consulate in Gdansk is the first step, following earlier closures of Russian consulates in Krakow and Poznan in response to similar sabotage concerns. Calling the railway incident “an act of state terrorism,” Sikorski added that Poland would also pursue non-diplomatic measures. Moscow, which denies any involvement, accused Poland of “Russophobia” and indicated it would restrict Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia.

Warsaw is now urging its EU partners to curb the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen zone, warning that further actions may follow. Poland and other EU states have repeatedly accused Russia and Belarus of destabilizing the region, including by fueling migration at the borders. Polish intelligence officials say several additional people have been detained in connection with the blast, amid a wider surge in sabotage, arson and cyberattacks across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Lukashenko Set for Seventh Term as Belarus Holds Presidential Election

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Belarus is set for a presidential election on Sunday, with five candidates appearing on the ballot. However, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled for 31 years, is assured of victory in what the exiled opposition has labeled a sham election. Opposition leaders have urged voters to reject all candidates as Lukashenko, 70, claims he is too focused on governance to campaign. Critics argue the election lacks genuine competition, as independent media is banned, and around 1,250 political prisoners remain detained, according to human rights groups.

Lukashenko’s tenure has been marked by protests and international condemnation, especially after mass demonstrations against alleged election fraud in 2020. Security forces cracked down on dissent, jailing opposition leaders or forcing them into exile. While recent prisoner releases suggest an attempt to mend ties with the West, opposition figures like Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya say these moves are strategic, aiming to secure sanctions relief amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

As a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko allowed Belarus to serve as a launchpad for Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Analysts suggest that a potential end to the war could open opportunities for Lukashenko to balance relations between Russia and the West, as he has done in the past. However, exiled opposition leaders, including Ivan Kravtsov, admit to struggling to remain relevant as Belarusians prioritize survival over politics.

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Polish security finds cabinet meeting room bugged

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Special services in Poland uncovered and removed listening devices in a room where cabinet ministers were scheduled to convene. The regular cabinet meeting, typically held in Warsaw, was relocated to Katowice due to the attendance of several ministers, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, at an economic conference there.

The increased spying activity in Poland is attributed to its role as a hub for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022. The State Protection Service, in collaboration with the Internal Security Agency, detected and dismantled the eavesdropping devices during a routine security sweep of the room. The Internal Security Agency is currently investigating the matter further.

Despite the discovery, the cabinet meeting proceeded as planned in the building. A spokesperson for the Silesia regional authorities suggested that the device may have been part of the room’s old communication system.

In a separate development, a Polish judge sought asylum in Belarus, citing concerns over Poland’s policies towards Belarus and Russia. The judge’s actions have raised suspicions of espionage, particularly as he was due to preside over cases involving security clearance for NATO-related information.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski condemned the judge’s actions, referring to him as a traitor. Prime Minister Tusk has called for a meeting of the Secret Services College to discuss potential Russian and Belarusian influence in Polish politics. He emphasized concerns about the judge’s long-standing relationship with Belarusian authorities and its implications for national security.

This incident comes after the previous year’s arrest of several members of an alleged Russian spy network in Poland, accused of planning sabotage near the Ukrainian border.

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Finland Alleges Russia’s Involvement in Facilitating Unauthorized Migrant Crossings

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Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has accused Russia of aiding migrants in entering Finland illegally, alleging that some have received assistance from Russian border guards. The number of unauthorized crossings has increased this week, with around 89 incidents recorded in two days, compared to 91 in the preceding four months. Finnish officials reveal that migrants, including individuals from Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, are arriving legally in Russia but lack authorization to enter Finland, an EU member state.

Colonel Matti Pitkaniitty of the Finnish border guard noted a change in Russian policy, asserting that Russian guards traditionally prevented people without proper documents from reaching the Finnish border. The migrants are exploiting an agreement allowing cycling across the border, prompting Finland to recently ban bicycle crossings. Most activity is concentrated around the Nuijamaa and Vaalimaa border crossings in south-eastern Finland. Prime Minister Orpo claimed that Russian authorities are facilitating these illegal crossings, emphasizing the assistance provided by border guards.

In 2021, a significant number of migrants from the Middle East and Africa entered EU member states Poland and Lithuania by flying to Belarus, a close Russian ally. The EU accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of using migration as a tool of “hybrid warfare” to destabilize the bloc. Colonel Pitkaniitty, while acknowledging the manageable current numbers, stated that Finnish authorities are prepared to react if crossings increase.

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen announced plans to enhance border security, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing the situation. Colonel Pitkaniitty noted that the route into the EU via Russia is considered safer than other options, such as crossing the Mediterranean by sea. He expressed concern that word of this route’s safety might attract more migrants, potentially leading to a rapid increase in numbers, emphasizing the unpredictability of when the opportunity might end.

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Poland to Deploy Approximately 10,000 Troops to Belarus Border

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Amid growing concerns about the presence of Wagner forces in the region, Poland is making preparations to deploy approximately 10,000 troops to its eastern border with Belarus. The Wagner troops, affiliated with Russia and stationed in Belarus, were reportedly involved in a brief rebellion. Poland’s Defense Minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, revealed that out of the total troop count, 4,000 soldiers will directly support border guards, while the remaining 6,000 will be in reserve.

Blaszczak cited alleged instances of Polish airspace violations by Belarusian military aircraft as a justification for the deployment. Belarus dismissed these accusations, labeling them as unfounded. Blaszczak emphasized the significance of such airspace violations and termed them a provocative act.

Blaszczak further asserted that events in Belarus are closely coordinated with Russia’s actions. Additionally, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed plans to bolster Russian forces along its western borders, attributing the decision to increased militarization in Poland.

Poland has recently raised concerns about Wagner forces within Belarus. Notably, heightened activity has been observed in the Suwalki gap, a narrow land strip between Poland and Lithuania. Wagner forces appear to be moving in that direction, possibly to exert pressure on NATO and EU member states. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki even warned about the possibility of Wagner fighters disguising themselves as migrants to cross the border.

Lithuania, another neighboring country of Belarus, has also fortified its borders, citing the threat posed by Wagner fighters.

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