TOPIC

/ location

Belarus

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Belarus. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Minsk

Head of State

President Alexander Lukashenko

Head of Government

Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a speech in Minsk on Thursday. Photo: Belarusian presidential press service via AFP

Ukraine war

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:57AMvideocam

European Union

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

14 Dec 2025 - 2:24AM

United States

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

13 Dec 2025 - 10:38PM

Lithuania

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

10 Dec 2025 - 1:03PM

Balloons are used to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania, but officials in Vilnius see their numbers and trajectories as deliberate acts of disruption orchestrated by Belarus. Photo: State Border Guard Service via AP

Ukraine war

Zelensky maps out ‘2 to 3 years’ of financial need to fight Ukraine war

Ukraine’s president said that though the war was unlikely to go on for decades, the country still needed Europe’s ‘stable financial support’.

28 Oct 2025 - 5:33PMvideocam

North Korea

US-North Korea flash summit remains long shot despite Trump’s open offer

Though a meeting with Trump would look good for Kim, the North Korean leader’s focus is on alliances with China and Russia, analysts say.

27 Oct 2025 - 9:28AMvideocam

Lithuania

Nato member Lithuania protests airspace incursion denied by Russia

Two Spanish fighter jets, which had been doing Nato air policing missions, were scrambled and flew out to the area.

24 Oct 2025 - 1:43PMvideocam

A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet that violated Estonian airspace in September. On Thursday, Lithuania said two Russian planes entered its airspace. Photo: Swedish Armed Forces via Reuters

Thailand

Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police

Tabloids claim Vera Kravtsova was abducted in Bangkok and forcibly brought to Myanmar, where she was tortured and had her organs harvested.

22 Oct 2025 - 7:32PMvideocam

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court suspends jail term for Belarusian model who assaulted 2 officers

25-year-old Aliaksandr Buka receives 18-month suspended sentence after injuring officers during a drunken domestic dispute.

16 Oct 2025 - 6:34PM

Ukraine war

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

13 Oct 2025 - 6:12AMvideocam

A general view of residential buildings during a power outage in Kyiv on Friday, following Russian attacks on Ukraine that cut power to thousands and killed a seven-year-old boy, authorities said. Photo: AFP

European Union

Lithuania’s Vilnius airport reopens after suspension over balloons in airspace

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions.

5 Oct 2025 - 5:57PMvideocam

German Patriot air defence system units are seen at the Vilnius airport in Lithuania in July 2023. Photo: Reuters

Nato

Estonia says Russian fighter jets breached its airspace in ‘brazen’ incursion

The incident involving three MiG-31s comes soon after Russian drones entered fellow Nato member Poland’s airspace and were shot down.

20 Sep 2025 - 8:19AMvideocam

Belt and Road Initiative

Poland border closure sets up speed bumps on China-Europe railway: analysts

Insiders say closing of Belarus border spells trouble for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, and could put Poland’s transit hub status at risk.

18 Sep 2025 - 4:55AMvideocam

Russia

UK summons Russian ambassador over violation of Nato airspace

The Foreign Office called recent incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace ‘unacceptable’, urging Russia to end its ‘illegal war’.

16 Sep 2025 - 9:15AMvideocam

Romania said on Saturday it deployed two F-16 jets to intercept a Russian drone that briefly entered its airspace. Photo: AFP

Nato

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

13 Sep 2025 - 7:39AMvideocam

Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich speaks during a press conference on the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones, at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Friday. Photo: AFP

Nato

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

12 Sep 2025 - 7:21PM

SCO

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

5 Sep 2025 - 11:35AMvideocam

SCO

SCO summit 2025: showcase of how far bloc has come in nearly a quarter century

Starting with six, group now unites 26 nations across Asia, Europe and Africa on not just security challenges but trade, diplomacy and more.

2 Sep 2025 - 3:40PMvideocam

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has evolved from a small consultative group focused on regional border security, the “Shanghai Five”, into a comprehensive Eurasian organisation. Photo: EPA-EFE

SCO

6 takeaways from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening

Xi Jinping urges members’ cooperation and setting up a development bank as Vladimir Putin blames Nato for Ukraine crisis.

1 Sep 2025 - 8:31PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Europe drawing up ‘precise plans’ to send troops to Ukraine: EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan for post-conflict security guarantees has the backing of the US president.

1 Sep 2025 - 3:56PM

SCO

Opinion | Beijing expands its influence in Eurasia as Trump triggers geopolitical shifts

While US policies are pushing China, Russia and India closer to each other, Eurasia is still marked by differences and contradictions.

26 Aug 2025 - 6:30AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, India on August 18, ahead of the Indian prime minister’s first visit to China in seven years. Photo: Indian Foreign Ministry via AP

China's military weapons

China says it will highlight joint combat groups in next month’s military parade

Victory Day event to feature ‘combat-oriented joint formations’ and ‘star’ weaponry, official adds.

20 Aug 2025 - 6:04PM

China last held a Victory Day military parade a decade ago, for the 70th anniversary. Photo: EPA

China’s military drills

Central Beijing blocked off for China’s WWII anniversary parade rehearsal

Thousands take part in preparations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Japanese forces.

10 Aug 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Armenia and Azerbaijan sign ‘Trump Route’ peace deal at White House

The leaders of the two nations also suggested sending a joint appeal for the US president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:51PMvideocam

Vladimir Putin

Putin ally Lukashenko says he won’t seek another term as Belarus president

The leader was interviewed by a US media outlet, in a sign of thawing relations with the United States under Trump.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:06AMvideocam

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting in Minsk, Belarus, in June. Photo: Sputnik via Reuters

Diplomacy

My Take | Those enabling genocide rub it in by attending Nagasaki memorial

But by inviting Israel and others to peace ceremony, mayor is making moral statement for sake of humanity despite pressure from West.

1 Aug 2025 - 10:15PM

The Memorial Cenotaph at the Peace Memorial Park, in Hiroshima, Japan. This August marks the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific theatre of World War II. Photo: AFP

European Union

Lithuania’s PM quits amid protests, investigations into business deals

His entire cabinet is also expected to quit, leaving Lithuania without an effective government weeks before Russia’s military exercise with Belarus.

31 Jul 2025 - 4:56PM

Russia

Russia’s Aeroflot cancels flights over crippling cyberattack

A statement purporting to be from hacking group Silent Crow says it carried out the attack with a Belarusian team, and linked it to the Ukraine war.

28 Jul 2025 - 8:45PMvideocam

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Belarus

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

Zelensky maps out ‘2 to 3 years’ of financial need to fight Ukraine war

Ukraine’s president said that though the war was unlikely to go on for decades, the country still needed Europe’s ‘stable financial support’.

US-North Korea flash summit remains long shot despite Trump’s open offer

Though a meeting with Trump would look good for Kim, the North Korean leader’s focus is on alliances with China and Russia, analysts say.

Nato member Lithuania protests airspace incursion denied by Russia

Two Spanish fighter jets, which had been doing Nato air policing missions, were scrambled and flew out to the area.

Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police

Tabloids claim Vera Kravtsova was abducted in Bangkok and forcibly brought to Myanmar, where she was tortured and had her organs harvested.

Hong Kong court suspends jail term for Belarusian model who assaulted 2 officers

25-year-old Aliaksandr Buka receives 18-month suspended sentence after injuring officers during a drunken domestic dispute.

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

Lithuania’s Vilnius airport reopens after suspension over balloons in airspace

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions.

Estonia says Russian fighter jets breached its airspace in ‘brazen’ incursion

The incident involving three MiG-31s comes soon after Russian drones entered fellow Nato member Poland’s airspace and were shot down.

Poland border closure sets up speed bumps on China-Europe railway: analysts

Insiders say closing of Belarus border spells trouble for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, and could put Poland’s transit hub status at risk.

UK summons Russian ambassador over violation of Nato airspace

The Foreign Office called recent incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace ‘unacceptable’, urging Russia to end its ‘illegal war’.

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

SCO summit 2025: showcase of how far bloc has come in nearly a quarter century

Starting with six, group now unites 26 nations across Asia, Europe and Africa on not just security challenges but trade, diplomacy and more.

6 takeaways from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening

Xi Jinping urges members’ cooperation and setting up a development bank as Vladimir Putin blames Nato for Ukraine crisis.

Europe drawing up ‘precise plans’ to send troops to Ukraine: EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan for post-conflict security guarantees has the backing of the US president.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Beijing expands its influence in Eurasia as Trump triggers geopolitical shifts

While US policies are pushing China, Russia and India closer to each other, Eurasia is still marked by differences and contradictions.

China says it will highlight joint combat groups in next month’s military parade

Victory Day event to feature ‘combat-oriented joint formations’ and ‘star’ weaponry, official adds.

Central Beijing blocked off for China’s WWII anniversary parade rehearsal

Thousands take part in preparations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Japanese forces.

Armenia and Azerbaijan sign ‘Trump Route’ peace deal at White House

The leaders of the two nations also suggested sending a joint appeal for the US president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Putin ally Lukashenko says he won’t seek another term as Belarus president

The leader was interviewed by a US media outlet, in a sign of thawing relations with the United States under Trump.

My Take | Those enabling genocide rub it in by attending Nagasaki memorial

But by inviting Israel and others to peace ceremony, mayor is making moral statement for sake of humanity despite pressure from West.

Lithuania’s PM quits amid protests, investigations into business deals

His entire cabinet is also expected to quit, leaving Lithuania without an effective government weeks before Russia’s military exercise with Belarus.

Russia’s Aeroflot cancels flights over crippling cyberattack

A statement purporting to be from hacking group Silent Crow says it carried out the attack with a Belarusian team, and linked it to the Ukraine war.

Opinion | Beijing expands its influence in Eurasia as Trump triggers geopolitical shifts