Belarus announces downed Ukrainian UAV

The Belarusian Armed Forces forced the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle to land, states the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.

Militarnyi informs.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, on January 24, 2022, an unmanned aerial vehicle flew from Ukraine into Belarus. The drone violated the Belarusian border in air space. The fact was registered by the Belarusian border service in association with units of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

The report claims that Belarusian air defense units forced the drone to land.

It is reported that due to an analysis of the data the drone recorded indicates it was launched from Ukraine’s territory.

Belarus claims that it was established that it has been determined that the drone was launched near the village of Pischa, Kovel District, Volyn Oblast (Ukraine) 1.7km away from the Belarusian border at 10:58 on 24 January.

The report assures that after gaining the operational altitude the drone crossed the Belarusian border near the village of Khmelishche, Malorita District. Later on it flew to the location of the military training area Brestsky in accordance with the mission task.

In connection with the incident the Belarusian Defense Ministry summoned Military Attache of the Embassy of Ukraine in Belarus, Colonel Sergii Katsuba on 3 February, 2022. The attache was handed a note of protest due to the cases of violations of the Belarusian border from Ukraine’s territory.

It was also stated that the need to conduct proceedings investigation of the incident and inform the Belarusian side about the results.

However, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry assured that this was provocation of the Belarusian authorities.
Ukraine has not launched an unmanned aerial vehicle into the territory of Belarus and urge Minsk not to play along with the destabilization actions of Russia, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Mykolenko said.

“This is another provocation by the Belarusian authorities. The mythical “tons of weapons” have been replaced by “drones.” Ukraine did not use UAVs. We urge Minsk not to play along with Russia’s destabilizing actions. Calm on the border between Belarus and Ukraine is in the entire region’s interests,” Oleg Mykolenko tweeted.