MINSK, 3 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian Defense Ministry has revealed details of the launch of a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle into Belarus' territory, BelTA has learned.
According to the Defense Ministry, an unmanned aerial vehicle flew from Ukraine into Belarus on 24 January 2022. 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. Belarusian air defense units forced the drone to land. An analysis of the data the drone recorded indicates it was launched from Ukraine's territory.
It has been determined that the drone was launched near the village of Pishcha, Kovel District, Volyn Oblast 1.7km away from the Belarusian border at 10:58 on 24 January. 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 Sergei Katsuba on 3 February. The attache was handed a note of protest due to increasingly frequent violations of the Belarusian border from Ukraine's territory (it was the third violation since November 2021). The attache was told the Ukrainian side should investigate the incident and inform the Belarusian side about the results.
