In a recent development, a Belarusian court has handed down convictions to 12 individuals for their alleged involvement in a drone attack on a Russian military radar plane. The incident, which occurred 20 months ago at the Machulishchy airfield near Minsk, the capital of Belarus, resulted in damage to a Beriev A-50 aircraft.
The court proceedings, which concluded on October 4, 2024, saw sentences ranging from 2 years and 3 months to 25 years in prison. Notably, the majority of the defendants were tried in absentia, with seven of the convicted reportedly not present in the country during the trial.
The Beriev A-50, a Soviet/Russian airborne early warning and control aircraft, entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1984. It is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane and features a distinctive large radar dome on its back, capable of detecting targets up to 650 km away.
Four of the defendants faced terrorism charges, receiving sentences between 15 and 25 years. These individuals are believed to be outside Belarus, according to independent news site Mediazona. The remaining defendants were convicted on lesser charges.
A Belarusian guerrilla group, primarily composed of former soldiers, claimed responsibility for the attack. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, as Belarus continues to allow Russia to station troops and equipment within its borders for use in the conflict with neighboring Ukraine.
Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of approximately 9.4 million, shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus has maintained close ties with Russia. The country is led by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, earning Belarus the moniker "Europe's last dictatorship" due to its authoritarian government.
The country's involvement in the ongoing conflict has led to international sanctions, as Belarus supports Russia's actions in Ukraine. This support includes allowing the use of Belarusian territory for military operations, such as the Machulishchy air base, located about 12 km southwest of Minsk.
The use of drones in warfare has increased significantly in recent years, as demonstrated by this attack. This incident also underscores the activities of Belarusian opposition groups, both within and outside the country, challenging the current political landscape.
As a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Belarus maintains strong military ties with Russia. However, this recent attack and subsequent trial highlight the complex geopolitical situation in the region and the ongoing challenges faced by the Belarusian government in maintaining control and suppressing dissent.