New military sites, missile infrastructure and hybrid attacks are raising fresh fears across NATO’s eastern flank, with Belarus at the center of growing concern.
Russia may use Belarusian territory for provocations against NATO and further escalation of tensions in Europe. This was stated by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
As reported by LRT.
According to Tsikhanouskaya, self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is ready to continue providing Russia with Belarusian territory and military infrastructure. They could be used for offensive operations or to intimidate Alliance countries.
She also drew attention to the construction of new military facilities in Belarus. Some of them are being built near the Ukrainian border, as well as along the borders with European Union member states.
We must be very cautious: we can see that infrastructure for Oreshnik missiles has been deployed in Belarus, while Russia and Belarus are threatening and blackmailing us with nuclear weapons.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
The opposition leader claims that Russia and Belarus are already carrying out hybrid attacks against NATO countries. Among the countries affected by such activities, she named Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia.
These activities include cyberattacks, the spread of disinformation, and the use of drones. Such actions are increasing concern among Baltic states over a possible rise in Russian military activity.
Russia’s Military Infrastructure in Belarus
Against the backdrop of these concerns, Russia has deployed the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus. Its deployment creates additional security risks for neighboring countries and NATO’s entire eastern flank.
In addition, a new training ground is being built in the Gomel region near the border with Ukraine. The facility will have railway infrastructure allowing heavy military equipment to be quickly unloaded directly from railcars.
Thus, Belarus may remain an important tool for Russian military pressure and provocations in the region bordering Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.