Russian strategic A-50 AEW&C is targeted by UAVs in Belarus
MINSK, BELARUS — The Russian A-50 early warning and control [AEW&C] aircraft is the target of unmanned aerial vehicles in Belarus. The A-50 is at the forefront of Russia’s strategic air platforms.
As the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, Belarusian activists claim to have attacked a Russian military aircraft with an unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]. Belarusian anti-government activists claim to have carried out a drone attack on a Russian Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft at Machulyshti Air Base outside the capital Minsk. The attack in question has not been confirmed by either Russia or Belarus.
Alexander Azarov, leader of the anti-government organization BYPOL in Belarus, said in a statement that the attack had taken several months to plan and that the “guerrillas” would try to carry out more actions in the future. Azarov, said: “We are working to continue our war against the Russian occupiers and against the murderous regime of [President] Lukashenko, which illegally seized power on Belarusian territory.” BYPOL has so far provided no evidence to support the attack claim.
Frank Vyachorka, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tsihanovskaya, also claimed that two Belarusian “guerrillas” were involved in the attack, saying the UAVs damaged the front and middle parts of the Beriev A-50 aircraft, including the radar antenna and avionics.
Noting that the two people who carried out the attack were now safe outside Belarus, Viachorka said: “I am proud of all Belarusians who continue to resist the Russian hybrid occupation in Belarus and fight for the freedom of Ukraine.”
Belarus, a Russian ally, has allowed Russia to use its territory to attack Ukraine but has so far not been directly involved in the war. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, various sabotages have been carried out in Belarus and the Russian border regions with Ukraine, especially on railway lines.
BYPOL, which includes former law enforcement officers who support opposition politicians, is considered a terrorist organization by the Belarusian government.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 21 February 2022, Russia claimed that Ukrainian shelling had destroyed an FSB border facility. Russia claimed that it had killed 5 Ukrainian soldiers. They tried to cross into Russian territory. Ukraine denied being involved in both incidents and called them a false flag.
On the same day, the Russian government formally recognized the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR. According to Putin not only in their de-facto controlled areas, but the Ukrainian Oblasts as a whole. Putin ordered Russian troops, including tanks, to enter the regions.
On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine by Russian Armed Forces previously concentrated along the border. The invasion followed by targeted airstrikes of military buildings in the country, as well as tanks entering via the Belarus border.
Russia has so far not recognized the invasion of Ukraine as a “war”, although that is exactly what it is, claiming that it is a “special military operation”. According to the UN, a “special military operation” can only take place after a UN resolution. There is no such resolution. So this is an invasion and war against Ukraine.
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