Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko accused Ukraine of violating its airspace

Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka said that Ukraine had allegedly violated the country's airspace. He said that the Belarusian air defence system had allegedly shot down Ukrainian drones.

According to Lukashenko, the incident occurred allegedly in the evening, August 9, because of which the air force and air defence of Belarus were put on high alert.

According to Lukashenko, about a dozen drones were detected, but at 19:04 at an altitude of one and a half kilometres "several targets were destroyed.

We suspect that these are attack drones, having violated the airspace of Belarus, were flying away from Ukraine. We destroyed the targets over the territory of Belarus," he said.

Lukashenko instructed the Ministry of Defence and the military command to take measures "to reliably secure the state."

Why Ukraine would do this, I don't understand. We need to figure it out. But we, as I said, clearly defined with them and brought this information to them that any provocations will not go unanswered," he said.

He also said that by such actions the Ukrainians have shown that "they are not ready for any peace.

Lukashenko also recalled the fighting in Kursk voblast. According to his assessment, the AFU advanced 30-35 kilometres in Russia.