Zelensky warns Russia may expand missile threats from Belarus against western Ukraine

What happened

The Kyiv Independent reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia may be preparing to expand missile and drone attacks on western Ukraine using Belarus as a staging ground. Zelensky said Russian forces are currently employing drone signal relay equipment based in Belarus and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s approval to deploy additional ballistic missiles there.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Separately, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko confirmed that Belarusian-based equipment is used to relay or amplify signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones targeting western Ukraine and Poland's border region. In September, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief stated that Russia’s 101st Missile Brigade, equipped with Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles, had been deployed to Belarus, though independent confirmation of current deployments or missile placements is not provided.

Recent Russian strikes have hit multiple locations across western Ukraine—including Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv oblasts—causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and power outages. Zelensky said Ukraine plans to increase its air defense capabilities nationwide, deploying resources in accordance with assessed threat levels and boosting production of defensive systems.

Known from the source

• President Zelensky warned about potential expansion of Russian missile threats from Belarus targeting western Ukraine.
• Ukraine's State Border Guard Service confirmed Belarus-based equipment helps relay or amplify drone signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones aimed at western Ukraine and Poland's border region.
• Ukraine’s military intelligence reported deployment of Russia's 101st Missile Brigade with Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles to Belarus in September.
• Western Ukrainian regions including Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv have suffered recent Russian attacks causing deaths, injuries, and infrastructure damage.
• Ukraine plans to increase air defense deployment and production in response to threats.

What remains unclear

Zelensky’s remarks underline rising concern over Belarus’ direct involvement in the conflict, which he called dangerous both for Ukraine and Belarus itself. However, the full scale and nature of Russian missile deployments in Belarus remain unconfirmed in the supplied material. Ukrainian officials’ claims about drone signal relay and Russian missile brigade presence rest on government sources without third-party verification.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Has Russia formally deployed ballistic missile systems to Belarus at present, or is this projection based on intelligence assessments and statements?. Are specific attacks on western Ukraine definitively linked to missile strikes launched from Belarusian territory?. Casualty and damage reports from recent strikes in western Ukraine should be verified with independent sources.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.