Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Belarus is edging closer to direct involvement in Russia’s war after intelligence revealed a major military build-up along Ukraine’s northern border.
Kyiv says construction of military infrastructure inside Belarus is now nearing completion, fuelling fears that Moscow is preparing to open a dangerous new front in the conflict.
Following a briefing from Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service, Zelensky revealed that road networks, ammunition depots and fuel storage facilities are being rapidly expanded close to the border.
These facilities have no purpose other than a military one,” the Ukrainian leader warned, accusing Minsk of helping Russia prolong and escalate the war.
The stark warning comes amid growing concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin is piling pressure on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to become more deeply involved in the conflict after more than four years of war.
Throughout 2026, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow is attempting to drag its closest ally into the fighting as Russian forces struggle to secure a decisive breakthrough on the battlefield.
Earlier this week, Belarus’s exiled opposition presented Kyiv with what it described as warning signs that Minsk was shifting onto a wartime footing, pointing to policy changes and military preparations they believe indicate a growing risk of intervention.
Zelensky said Ukraine had already sent clear warnings to Belarus over what it views as dangerous military cooperation with Moscow.
“It is the Belarusian side that must take steps toward de-escalation and peace,” he said.
The comments come just days after Lukashenko reportedly backed down following an ultimatum from Kyiv to remove communications equipment that Ukraine claims was assisting Russian drone attacks.
Belarus has played a key role in Russia’s invasion since February 2022, allowing Russian forces to launch their failed assault on Kyiv from its territory while continuing to provide launch sites for missile and drone attacks.
According to Ukrainian officials, any renewed offensive from Belarus would require a force of around 70,000 troops, underlining the scale of preparations that would be needed before any major new assault.
The latest intelligence is likely to intensify concerns that the Kremlin is searching for new ways to stretch Ukraine’s already heavily committed forces by threatening another front from the north, even as fighting continues to rage across the east and south of the country.
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