Overview
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on June 19 that Belarus has seven days to remove or deactivate signal relay equipment he says is being used from two border regions to help steer Russian attacks.
- Zelenskiy warned that if Minsk does not act within a week, Ukraine will carry out strikes itself, but he did not detail what form any action would take.
- Multiple outlets reported Zelenskiy’s claim while noting independent reporters could not verify the presence or use of the specific relay stations he described.
- Minsk rejects being drawn into the war and says it will defend itself with Russia if attacked, with Belarusian officials calling Kyiv’s statements provocative and denying malicious intent.
- The ultimatum follows months of Belarus‑Russia military cooperation, recent drills and cross‑border incidents and heightens the risk that the war could widen beyond Ukraine’s borders.