Belarus

Beyond the Headlines: Stronger than we think

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

A protester waves the pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag outside UN headquarters during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Iran in New York on January 15, 2026.
 US President Donald Trump meets United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025.

UAE, Belarus, Bahrain join Trump's Board of Peace alongside US rivals China, Russia

Service members take part in what Russian Defence Ministry says is the deployment of the Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile system in Belarus, at an unidetified location in this still image from video released December 30, 2025.

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles in Belarus amid rising tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Syrian interim president at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on October 15, 2025.

Russia likely placing new hypersonic missiles at former airbase in Belarus, researchers find


Belarus forces holding exercises with Wagner fighters on border with Poland

"The armed forces of Belarus continue joint training with the fighters of the Wagner PMC (Private Military Company)," the Belarusian defense ministry said.

 Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023

Former Wagner boss appears half naked in bizarre photo leaked online

Despite his state of undress, Prigozhin has developed a reputation as a fashionista.

 Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin widely known by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky, who was recently killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe, in Moscow, Russia, April 8, 2023.

Wagner fighters preparing to move to Belarus - commander cited

An adviser to Belarus' defence ministry said on Friday that nobody from the Wagner group had yet visited the disused military camp that Lukashenko had offered for the fighters' use.

 Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023

NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus

"You know where you are situated geographically, and you know pretty well where the threat is coming from", said Lt Col Steffen Lieb, commander of the Patriot deployment.

A member of Lithuanian Riflemen's Union and a Border Guard officer patrol along Belarus border in Kaniukai, Lithuania July 7, 2023.

Lukashenko: I have veto over use of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

Belarusian President Lukashenko stated he has a veto on use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed on Belarusian territory.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia February 18, 2022.

Belarus leader says: I'm not the last dictator in Europe

Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, dismissed claims that he was "Europe's last dictator" on Thursday.

 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon in Dushanbe, Tajikistan October 11, 2022

Prigozhin back in Russia, Wagner deployment unclear - Belarus

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, is no longer in Belarus and there are reports that he may have returned to Russia.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group stand on a tank outside a local circus near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023

Iran to be accepted to SCO at summit attended by Putin and Xi

China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will participate in the virtual summit, which will be Putin’s first appearance at an international event.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022.

Poland hopes to join NATO nuclear sharing agreement over Russian threat

Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki stated that Poland wants to join NATO's nuclear weapons sharing program, in response to Russia's deployment of nuclear warheads to Belarus.

A member of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service keeps watch at the Senkivka checkpoint near the border with Belarus and Russia in the Chernihiv region, Ukraine, February 16, 2022.

Belarus leader says nuclear arms will not be used

The Belarusian president, in an address marking his ex-Soviet state's national day, said the stationing of the weapons in Belarus was "my firmest initiative".

 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists during his visit to a military-industrial complex facility in the Minsk Region, Belarus June 13, 2023.