Belarus

Belarus starts military exercises near border regions

Sept 8 (Reuters) - Belarus has started military exercises by the city of Brest near the Polish border, its capital Minsk and the northeast region of Vitebsk, the defence ministry…

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Belarus President Lukashenko says Belarusian planes re-fitted to carry nuclear weapons

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that his military's SU-24 warplanes had been modified to carry nuclear weaponsand that Minsk would react immediately if the…

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Belarus officials behind hoax that grounded dissident’s flight, U.N. agency says

(Reuters) - The U.N.'s aviation agency on Tuesday for the first time blamed senior Belarus officials for a hoax last year that grounded a Ryanair Holdings PLC flight and led to the arrest…

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UK to introduce new sanctions on Belarus and Russian media

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said it would on Tuesday introduce new economic, trade and transport sanctions on Belarus over its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and also sanctioned six Russians…

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Belarus leader stands with Russia in its military drive in Ukraine

The president of Belarus -- Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's closest ally -- said on Sunday his ex-Soviet state stood fully behind Russia in its military drive in Ukraine as part…

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Poland condemns Belarus for vandalism of Polish graves

WARSAW, (Reuters) - Poland accused the Belarusian authorities of creating an "atmosphere of acquiescence" to acts of vandalism against Polish graves and demanded authorities punish perpetrators, adding to tensions between…

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UPDATED: Putin: Western political pressure speeding up Russia’s integration with Belarus

President Vladimir Putin on Friday said political pressure from the West was accelerating Belarus's integration with neighbouring Russia, which has been proceeding on and off for more than two decades. "Unprecedented political and…

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Putin promises Belarus Iskander-M missiles to counter “aggressive” West

MOSCOW, June 25 (Reuters) - Russia will supply Belarus with Iskander-M missile systems within a few months, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a televised meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday.…

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Belarus jails Radio Liberty freelancer for six years for ‘extremism’

A court in Belarus sentenced a freelance journalist for the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to six years in jail on extremism charges, the broadcaster and the Spring-96…

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UPDATED: Minsk will allow Ukrainian grain to transit Belarus in exchange for access to Baltic ports

June 3 (Reuters) - Minsk is ready to allow the transit of Ukraine's grain to Baltic Sea ports via Belarus if it is allowed to ship Belarusian goods from these ports, the…

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UPDATED: Lukashenko urges Russia-led CSTO military alliance to unite against West

May 16 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday urged other members of a Russian-dominated military alliance to stand united, and accused the West of hoping to prolong the conflict in…

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Belarus deploying special forces to southern border near Ukraine

Belarus will deploy special operations troops in three areas near its southern border with Ukraine, the armed forces said as President Alexander Lukashenko talked up the role of Russian-made missiles…

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Belarus bans EU-registered carriers from transporting heavy cargo in country

May 6 (Reuters) - Belarus said on Friday that it is banning carriers registered in the European Union from transporting heavy cargo on its territory. "A ban is introduced for carriers registered…

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UPDATED: Kremlin denies Russian troops have entered Ukraine’s Azovstal plant

May 5 (Reuters) - The Kremlin denied that Russian troops were storming the Azovstal steel plant in Ukraine's southern port city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters and civilians are trapped, and said…

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Ex-Belarus leader Shushkevich, the man who sacked Gorbachev, dies at 87

(Reuters) - Former Belarus leader Stanislav Shushkevich, the man who broke the news to Mikhail Gorbachev that the Soviet Union was being consigned to history, has died at the age…

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UPDATED: Ukraine says it is ‘ready’ if Belarus joins Russian war effort

KYIV, May 4 (Reuters) - Kyiv will be ready if Belarus's armed forces join Russia's war effort in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian State Border Service said on Wednesday.…

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U.S. targets seven Belarus national carrier planes for violating export controls

The U.S. Commerce Department confirmed it had identified seven Boeing 737 Planes operated by Belarusian national carrier Belavia that are in apparent violation of U.S. export controls. The seven Belarusian-operated…

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Belarus carried out ‘special operation’ to return its truckers from Ukraine -Belta

April 7 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Minsk had been forced to carry out what he called a special operation to return truck drivers from Ukraine, the…

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Poland charges two persons with spying for Belarus

Prosecutors in Poland have charged two men detained by the country’s military police and suspected of spying for Belarus. The two suspects, both Belarusian nationals, have been remanded in custody…

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Kremlin says ‘nothing terrible will happen’ if Russia is expelled from G20; Belarus blocked from joining WTO

March 25 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that nothing terrible will happen if the United States and its allies succeed in expelling Russia from the Group of Twenty (G20) major…

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UPDATED: Belarus tells some Ukrainian diplomats to leave as fears increase Belarus could soon join war

March 23 (Reuters) - Belarus has told some Ukrainian diplomats to leave the country and is closing its neighbour's consulate in the city of Brest, the country's BelTA news agency reported on…

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Putin ‘in better shape than ever’, Belarus leader says

March 19 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is healthy, sane and "in better shape than ever", his close ally Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said in an interview with the Japanese…

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U.N. calls for release of political prisoners held in Belarus

GENEVA, March 17 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief said on Thursday that nearly 1,100 activists, opposition members and journalists are being detained on "politically motivated charges" in Belarus and called for…

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UPDATED: Switzerland steps up economic sanctions against Belarus and Russia in line with EU

ZURICH, March 16 (Reuters) - Neutral Switzerland has adopted more European Union sanctions against Russian individuals and entities published on Tuesday in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Wednesday. "Switzerland's…

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ECB tells banks to check Russian, Belarusian clients; Some told to make extra checks on big payments, deposits

FRANKFURT/MADRID (Reuters) - European Union regulators have told some banks to scrutinise transactions by all Russian and Belarusian clients, including EU residents, to ensure that they are not used to circumvent Western…

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Fears grow of new crisis as refugees in Belarus driven into Ukraine

Belarusian armed forces are pushing asylum seekers from the Middle East who became trapped in the country after they were promised passage to the EU to cross the border into…

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UPDATED: Belarus denies plans to join Russian invasion but is ‘rotating’ troops at border

LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) - Belarus has no plans to join the Russian invasion of Ukraine but is sending five battalion tactical groups (BTGs) to its border on rotation to replace forces…

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Japan to freeze assets of 3 Belarusian banks, ban more exports to Russia

TOKYO, March 11 (Reuters) - Japan will freeze the assets of three Belarusian banks from April 10 following new sanctions against the country over its involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the…

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UPDATED: Putin sees “certain positive shifts” in talks with Ukraine

March 11 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday some progress had been made in Moscow's talks with Ukraine, while the Kremlin said the conflict would end when the West…

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Lukashenko says Belarus army must prevent any attack on Russia from the rear

March 10 (Reuters) - Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko told his defence ministry on Thursday that the Belarus army must prevent any attack on Russian forces from the rear, the state news agency…

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Belarusian forces will not take part in Ukraine war, Lukashenko says

MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that the Belarusian armed forces were not taking part and would not take part in Russia's military operation in Ukraine.…

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EU considering SWIFT exclusion for Belarus banks, sanctions on Russia starting to have an effect

BRUSSELS, March 3 (Reuters) - The European Union is considering excluding banks in Belarus from the SWIFT messaging system that underpins the global financial transactions, as it has already done for seven…

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EU bans 70% of Belarus exports to bloc with new sanctions over Ukraine invasion

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union has approved new sanctions against Belarus for its supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, effectively banning about 70% of all imports from that country,…

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Belarus says it boosts security on southern, western borders

MOSCOW, March 2 (Reuters) - Belarus said on Wednesday it had stepped up security at its western and southern borders as Russia invades neighbouring Ukraine. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said…

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UPDATED: EU bans export of machinery to Belarus in new sanctions over Ukraine invasion

BRUSSELS, March 2 (Reuters) - The European Union has approved new sanctions against Belarus for its supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU said on Wednesday, including a ban on…

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EU to impose new sanctions on Belarus this week

BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The European Union is planning to impose new sanctions on Belarus this week for helping the Russian invasion of Ukraine, hitting exports, oligarchs, central bank…

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U.S. halts operations at embassy in Belarus, OKs evacuation from U.S. embassy in Moscow

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Operations at the U.S. embassy in Minsk have been suspended and non-emergency employees and family members are authorized to voluntarily depart the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Secretary…

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Indications of imminent deployment of Belarusian paratroopers in Ukraine

The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Belarusian paratroopers could be deployed to Ukraine as early as this morning. The news outlet says it has multiple sources saying the decision has…

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UPDATED: Mass arrests as Belarus confirms ditching non-nuclear status in referendum vote

Feb 28 (Reuters) - About 800 people were arrested as Belarus voted to ditch its non-nuclear status in a referendum that raises the stakes at a time when the country…

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Launchpad for Russia’s assault on Ukraine, Belarus holds referendum to renounce non-nuclear status

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Belarus held a referendum on Sunday to adopt a new constitution that would ditch its non-nuclear status at a time when the country has become a launchpad for Russian…

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Russian troop withdrawal depends in part on NATO pullback, Belarus says

MOSCOW, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Belarus said on Monday that the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory would depend to a large extent on NATO pulling back its forces from near…

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UPDATED: Russia, Belarus extend huge military exercises – Belarus ministry

MOSCOW/DONETSK, Ukraine, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Russia and Belarus are extending military drills that were due to end on Sunday, the Belarus defence minister said, in a step that further intensifies pressure…

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UPDATED: Belarus leader says will take part in overseeing military drills with Putin on Saturday

MOSCOW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday he would take part in overseeing military drills on Saturday along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the RIA news agency…

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Russia starts Belarus military drills amid new diplomacy on Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Russia started the active phase of military drills in Belarus on Thursday as Britain launched new diplomacy in a standoff over Ukraine, warning Moscow that…

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Vast drills spotlight Russia’s grip on Belarus during standoff with West

MOSCOW, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Russia launches the active phase of vast military exercises in Belarus on Thursday, a display of strength that shows how Moscow's tightening grip on Minsk…

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U.S. imposes visa restrictions on Belarusian nationals

The United States said it was imposing visa restrictions on several Belarusians, citing the repression of athletes abroad including the attempted forced repatriation of a sprinter at the Tokyo Olympic…

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UPDATED: NATO says Russia has sent some 30,000 combat troops, modern weapons to Belarus

BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - NATO said Russia had stepped up deployments to Ukraine's northern neighbour Belarus in recent days and was expected to have 30,000 troops there for joint…

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Germany’s spy chief says Moscow hasn’t made decision on Ukraine attack

BERLIN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Russia is prepared to attack Ukraine but has not yet decided whether to do so, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) said amid…

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Russian forces will leave Belarus once drills are over, Minsk says

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Russian military forces will leave Belarus once joint exercises between the two ex-Soviet countries are over next month, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence said on…

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Russian troops, army vehicles arrive in Belarus for a joint military drill

Russian soldiers and military vehicles began to arrive in Belarus on Monday, Jan. 24, reportedly for a joint military exercise. Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry shows as military…

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Factbox: Russian military drills in Belarus create new threats for Ukraine

Joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus in the coming weeks will provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with new options if he decides to attack Ukraine and will further stretch…

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Russia sends two S-400 battalions to Belarus for drills

MOSCOW, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Russia is sending two battalions of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to Belarus to join military drills there next month, the Interfax news agency said on…

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Fears arrival of Russian troops could lead to nuclear weapons in Belarus

The United States is worried that the arrival of Russian troops in Belarus for exercises could become a permanent presence that might lead to nuclear weapons into the country, a senior State…

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Russia and Belarus plan joint military drills in February – Lukashenko

MOSCOW, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Russia and Belarus will hold joint military drills in February, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday, amid soaring tensions between East and West over…

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Ukraine suspects group linked to Belarus intelligence over cyberattack

KYIV, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Kyiv believes a hacker group linked to Belarusian intelligence carried out a cyberattack that hit Ukrainian government websites this week and used malware similar to…

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Belarus jails opposition leader’s husband for 18 years

Syarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarus's opposition leader, was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in jail for organising mass unrest and inciting social hatred, the official Belta news agency reported.…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko repeats threat to block gas transit to Europe

MOSCOW, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko has again warned that Minsk could suspend the transit of gas across its territory to Europe in response to new Western…

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