Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. File photoMINSK, Feb. 6President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that Minsk is ready to respond more harshly to provocations from Ukraine in the future. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry protested to the Ukrainian ambassador on Thursday in connection with the launch of a drone from the Ukrainian side into Belarusian territory for reconnaissance. According to the ministry, the Ukrainian drone illegally crossed the border on January 24, after which it was forced to land by specialists from the armed forces. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the analysis of onboard equipment data showed that the drone was launched from the territory of Ukraine in order to conduct illegal reconnaissance activities over the Brestsky military training ground. The examination of the device made it possible to restore its route and establish that the drone took over 200 photographs of the Belarusian territory.A source spoke about a drone that flew into Belarus from Ukraine «Well, we tried a drone now, we had to … shoot it down, roughly speaking, well, further … they climb further — we will act tougher,» Lukashenka said in an interview with the Soloviev Live YouTube channel, footage were shown on the TV channel «Russia 1» and on the platform «LOOK». The Belarusian president noted that the incident with the drone is not the first case of violation of the border by Ukraine. On December 4, on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border near the Novaya Rudnya checkpoint, a violation of the air border of Belarus was recorded: a Ukrainian military helicopter Mi-8 crossed the state border and flew into the territory of the republic to a depth of 1 kilometer. «It was accidental earlier, let's say so. You know , that helicopter was not a problem to shoot down. Should it have been done? I think not,» Lukashenka said. «headless» Answering the question whether the upcoming Belarusian-Russian joint military exercises in February are directed against Ukraine, the Belarusian president replied that «if necessary, then against Ukraine and against NATO.» He explained that this would happen if «someone tries more than a drone from the territory of Ukraine.» The forces of the Union State are being tested on the territory of Belarus. At the first stage (until February 9), groupings of troops on the territory of Belarus will be redeployed and created. At the second stage (February 10-20), the joint Belarusian-Russian exercises «Allied Resolve-2022» will be held, within the framework of which the issues of suppressing and repelling external aggression, as well as countering terrorism and protecting the interests of the Union State will be worked out.
Lukashenko answered the question about the big war in Europe
