The attack on the Russian surveillance plane comes amid increased cooperation between Minsk and Moscow.
A Russian A-50 military surveillance aircraft was damaged in a drone strike at an airfield near the Belarusian capital Minsk, according to Belarusian partisans and members of the opposition in exile.
“Those were drones. The participants in the operation are Belarusians,” Alexandr Azarov, head of Belarusian anti-government organization BYPOL, was quoted as saying on Sunday on the organization’s Telegram messaging app and Polish news channel Belsat.
“You are safe now, out of the country.”
Belsat is a Polish channel that focuses on Belarusian news, which Minsk has branded as extremist. BYPOL, which includes former law enforcement officials who support opposition politicians, has been branded a “terrorist” organization.
“Partisans … confirmed a successful special operation to blow up a rare Russian plane at Machulishchy airfield near Minsk,” tweeted Franak Viacorka, a close adviser to opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
“This is the most successful diversion since early 2022,” he added.
It has not been possible to independently verify the reported operation and authorities in Russia and Belarus have not issued any explanations about the alleged attack.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left) is a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin [File: Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Kremlin via Reuters]Two explosions damaged the front and center parts of the aircraft and the radar antenna, BYPOL reported.
The Beriev A-50 aircraft is a Russian airborne early warning aircraft capable of tracking up to 60 targets simultaneously.
Belarus has not played a direct role in Moscow’s attack on Ukraine, but President Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Belarusian territory to be used by Russian forces as a base for their February 24, 2022 invasion. He said earlier this month that Belarus is ready to do it again.
Kiev has accused Russia of using Belarusian airstrips as a base for attacks on Ukraine and has for months raised concerns that Belarus could join the war alongside Russia.
Russia and Belarus established a joint military unit in Belarus and held numerous exercises. A number of Russian fighter jets and airborne early warning and surveillance aircraft have also been deployed to Belarus.
Lukashenko will begin a state visit to China on Tuesday, days after Beijing released a 12-point framework for peace in Ukraine.