Ukraine Hits Belarus with New Sanctions Over War Aid

Ukraine has added a new set of restrictions on Belarus’s leader, Alexander Lukashenko. The aim is to punish Minsk for helping Russia in its conflict with Kyiv. Belarus has been a key launch pad for Russian forces and drones that attack Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the country will step up its response. He warned that any support from Lukashenko to Russian attacks on Ukrainian people will be met with stronger counter‑measures. The sanctions also ban the Belarusian president from entering Ukraine.Belarus shares a long border with Ukraine, and Russian drones have flown from Belarus to strike Ukrainian targets. The new rules block the use of Belarusian relay stations that guide those drones. Zelenskiy highlighted that without this support, many attacks on energy sites and railways would not have happened. Although the move has a symbolic tone—Lukashenko is already sanctioned by the US and Europe—it signals Ukraine’s intent to work with partners for a global impact. The new measures aim to pressure Belarus into cutting ties with Russia.