Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Russian combat drones and Belarusian military planes are now flying over our families. Two Russian Shahed kamikaze drones were shot down over Belarus in the early hours of September 5. Today, it was fragments of downed drones falling on Belarusians. So what will we witness tomorrow? It is clear that the Lukashenka regime cannot ensure peace and safety in our country.
Since Russia started its aggression against Ukraine, it has been using our land and airspace to launch its attacks. Belarus is already a co-aggressor. Tanks have rolled and missiles have flown from our territory toward Ukraine, bringing destruction and death. Now, Russia is using our airspace for its aggression again. This puts every one of us in danger.
We were fortunate to have no casualties this time but the threat remains. The authorities are trying to hide these incidents from the Belarusian people because they make it obvious that the regime is bringing war into our homes. And only now, with the entire city of Homiel talking about it, are the authorities forced to acknowledge reality.
I strongly protest against the use of our land and sky by Russian military forces. This violates both international law and Belarus’ national interests. The regime has dragged us into disgraceful aggression and now shows its complete inability to protect our country from the consequences.
I demand that Russia stop violating our borders, and call on the military leadership of Belarus to end all cooperation with Russian forces. They must do everything in their power to protect our land and our people.
We remain in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who are fighting for their freedom, and urge the international community to do everything in its power to stop Russia’s actions, which are threatening regional and global security”.
