Ukraine has imposed new sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, accusing the country of helping Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities say the decision was taken to respond to Minsk’s continued assistance to Russian military operations that have caused damage and loss of life inside Ukraine.
The announcement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said Ukraine would significantly increase countermeasures against all forms of support coming from Belarus. He stated that helping Russia in any way contributes directly to attacks on Ukrainians and Ukrainian infrastructure.
Belarus is one of Russia’s closest allies and allowed its territory to be used as a staging ground when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Russian forces moved into northern Ukraine from there and advanced toward Kyiv before being forced to withdraw.
As part of the new measures, Ukraine has banned Alexander Lukashenko from entering Ukrainian territory. The press service of the Belarusian presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Ukraine says Belarus has continued to support Russia even though there has been no active fighting along the shared border. The two countries share a border of more than 1,000 kilometers, which Ukrainian officials say makes this role especially important.
According to President Zelenskyy, Belarus allowed Russia in the second half of 2025 to deploy relay stations on its territory. These systems are used to control long-range drones during attacks on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said these drones have been used in strikes on energy facilities, railway systems, and other critical infrastructure across Ukraine. He stated that some of these attacks would not have been possible without assistance from Belarus.
Ukraine argues that allowing such systems to operate from its northern neighbor’s territory directly supports Russia’s military campaign. Although troops from that country are not fighting inside Ukraine, officials in Kyiv say technical and logistical assistance still plays a key role in the war.
Zelenskyy said Belarus continues to cooperate closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed actions that increase the threat to Ukraine’s security.
Missile Deployment and International Sanctions Pressure
Ukraine also raised concerns about Belarus hosting Russian weapons systems. Zelenskyy said the country has allowed the deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile system on its territory.
Russia released video footage in December showing what it said was the deployment of the missile system in Belarus. Lukashenko later confirmed that the system had been deployed and placed on active combat duty.
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Ukrainian officials say Belarus is also being used as a supply base for Russia’s war effort. Zelenskyy stated that more than 3,000 businesses are providing components, equipment, and machinery to support the Russian army, including parts used in missile production.
Belarus is already under sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries. Because of this, Ukraine’s sanctions are seen mainly as a political signal. However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would work with international partners to ensure the measures have a global effect.
In December, U.S. President Donald Trump granted limited sanctions relief to three Belarusian companies producing potash after the released 123 political prisoners. One of those released, Maria Kalesnikava, later urged European countries to engage in dialogue with the country, warning that continued isolation could strengthen Russian influence.
Ukraine has taken a firm position, stating that as long as Belarus continues to assist Russia’s war effort, pressure must remain. Ukrainian officials say the sanctions are meant to clearly show that any form of support for attacks on Ukraine carries consequences.