Machulishchy air base attack

Last updated
Machulishchy air base attack
Part of the Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present) and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian Federation Air Force Beriev A-50M aircraft.JPG
Aircraft A-50U (RF-50608) in the year 2011 [1]
DateFebruary 26, 2023
Location
Belarus, Minsk region, Machulishchi airport
Belligerents
Flag of Belarus (1918, 1991-1995).svg Belarusian opposition Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
BYPOL. Ab'iadnanne silavikou Belarusi.png BYPOL Great emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg Russian Aerospace Forces

On February 26, 2023, at the Machulishchy military airfield, around 12 kilometers from Minsk, a Russian A-50 early warning military aircraft was damaged as a result of explosions. [2] BYPOL claimed responsibility for the drone attack. Alyaksandr Lukashenko acknowledged the attack only a week later, stating that the damage to the aircraft was minor. Later, he admitted that the A-50 still had to be sent to Russia for repairs. [3]

Contents

Russian A-50 in Belarus

Alexander Lukashenko, being an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, allowed Russia to use the territory of Belarus as a launching pad for the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. [4] After the beginning of the invasion, the resistance members from Belarus, who called themselves "partisans", began to carry out sabotage on the railways used by Russian troops. At the time of the incident in Machulishchy, Belarusian partisans claimed involvement in 17 major railway sabotages. [3]

According to the publication the Military Balance for 2022 the Air Force of the Russian Federation had 3 A-50's and 6 A-50U's. [5] The cost of such an aircraft is estimated at 330 million dollars. According to the monitoring group "Belarus Gayan" A-50U aircraft with registration number RF-50608 flew to Belarus on January 3, 2023 and by the time of the incident made 12 flights. [1] According to the Belarusian authorities, this long-range radar detection and control aircraft was used by them to monitor their border. According to the Belarusian partisans, who was stationed in their station. [6] In this regard, the Ukrainian edition of Ukrainska Pravda noted that aircraft carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles usually took off from the Machulishchi airfield, which is why an air force was declared in Ukraine. [7]

The course of the attack

On the morning of February 26, 2023, at the Belarusian military airfield "Machulishchi", located 12 km from Minsk, there were explosions. After that, activists from BYPOL reported that as a result of at least two explosions, a Russian military transport aircraft and snowplows were damaged. [8] It was reported that in the area of the airfield, local residents observed a large number of military and traffic police crews, They checked all passing cars. Later, BYPOL reported that sabotage was committed at the military airfield, as a result of which the Russian military long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 was seriously damaged - its front and central parts, as well as avionics and radar, were damaged. [9]

The incident was initially denied by both the Belarusian and Russian sides. [10] However, a month later, Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged the attack, saying that the damage to the plane was minor. Later, he nevertheless admitted that the A-50 had to be sent to Russia for repairs. [11]

Organizers

Responsibility for the drone attack was claimed by the Association of Security Forces of Belarus (BYPOL), the core of which is made up of former military men who disagree with the policy of the country's authorities. [12] BYPOL works closely with the team of the leader of the Belarusian opposition in exile, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said in an interview with Belsat, that all the people who carried out the attack were able to leave Belarus safely and confirmed that it was carried out by drones. [13]

Alexander Lukashenko announced the arrest of the perpetrator of the attack, a dual citizen of Ukraine and Russia, along with more than 20 accomplices and accused them of having links with the Ukrainian special services. [14] [15] BYPOL and the Ukrainian authorities rejected accusations of Kiev's involvement. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said that the person named by Lukashenka as the executor is not familiar to him. [11]

Reaction and aftermath

BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said that the group is preparing other operations to liberate Belarus "from Russian occupation" and liberate Belarus from the Lukashenka regime, noting that they now have a "two-headed enemy". [16]

Ukrainian authorities have rejected accusations of involvement in the incident. [17]

The ONT TV channel, citing the deputy head of the Investigative Directorate of the KGB of Belarus, Konstantin Bychek, reported that in the case of the incident with the plane at the military airfield in Machulishchy - about 30 defendants, they may face death. It is known about the detention of IT specialist Dmitry Mostovoy. All the detainees were charged under the article on the terrorist attack. [18]

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" reported that the former Deputy Minister of Communications of Belarus and Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) was detained in Russia, Dmitry Shedko, who could be associated with people involved in sabotage in Machulishchy. [19]

According to the calculations of military expert Ilya Kramnik, quoted by Radio Liberty, at the end of November 2022, Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft spent about 40 hours in the air in the war zone in Ukraine, this means that most of the time the Russian army already received insufficient information from them, while the Ukrainian army was supplied with intelligence information by NATO countries. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beriev A-50</span> Soviet airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

The Beriev A-50 is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane. Developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss", the A-50 first flew in 1978. Its existence was revealed to the Western Bloc in 1978 by Adolf Tolkachev. It entered service in 1985, with about 40 produced by 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarusian Air Force</span> Aerial warfare branch of Belarus armed forces

The Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus, formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarusian opposition</span> Democratic political movement in the Republic of Belarus

The Belarusian opposition consists of groups and individuals in Belarus seeking to challenge, from 1988 to 1991, the authorities of Soviet Belarus, and since 1995, the leader of the country Alexander Lukashenko, whom supporters of the movement often consider to be a dictator. Supporters of the movement tend to call for a parliamentary democracy based on a Western model, with freedom of speech and political and religious pluralism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machulishchy (air base)</span> Air base in Machulishchy, Belarus

Machulishchy is an air base of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus located in Machulishchy, Minsk Region, Belarus.

Aliaksandr Shakutsin is a Belarusian businessman, allegedly close to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. Media widely characterize Shakutsin as an oligarch. On 17 December 2020, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Protasevich</span> Belarusian blogger and political activist

Roman Dmitriyevich Protasevich or Raman Dzmitryevich Pratasevich is a Belarusian blogger and political activist. He was the editor-in-chief of the Telegram channel Nexta and chief editor of the Telegram channel "Belarus of the Brain".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyber Partisans</span> Belarusian hacktivist group

Cyber Partisans is a Belarusian decentralized anonymous activist/hacktivist collective emerged in September 2020, known for its various cyber attacks against the authoritarian Belarusian government. The group is part of the broader Belarusian opposition movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine</span>

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported its eastern neighbour in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before the start of the offensive, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory; however, the Russian troops did not exit the country after they were supposed to finish. Belarus allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its territory, giving Russia the shortest possible land route to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. However, these forces withdrew within two months, thus ceasing land-based military operations originating from Belarus and resulting in the recapture of the Ukrainian side of the border region by Ukraine. Despite this, the situation along the border remains tense, with Ukraine closing the border checkpoints leading into Belarus, bar special cases.

Rail sabotage is one of the Belarusian forms of grassroots action opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And now I will show you where the attack on Belarus was prepared from</span> Phrase spoken by Alexander Lukashenko

"And now I will show you, where they were preparing the attack on Belarus from" is a phrase widely spread on Runet said by Alexander Lukashenko, which attempts to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine in regards to Belarus. The phrase subsequently became very popular in many countries of the former Soviet Union and started being used as a meme in various videos from mid-March 2022.

Events of the year 2022 in Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarusian and Russian partisan movement (2022–present)</span> Resistance to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Belarus and Russia

Pro-democratic and pro-Ukrainian partisan movements have emerged in Belarus and Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. These resistance movements act against the authoritarian governments of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus and Vladimir Putin in Russia, as well as against civilian supporters of these authorities and the armed forces of both countries, with the aim of stopping the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYPOL</span> Belarusian human rights non-governmental organization

The Association of Security Forces of Belarus, also known as BYPOL, is a Belarusian organization that was created by former employees of law enforcement agencies to counter the Belarusian authorities. The association has channels on YouTube and Telegram, on which it publishes various videos related to the security forces, and also doxes law enforcement officers.

The rail war began in different regions of Russia in the spring of 2022 after a similar rail war in Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busly liaciać</span> Belarusian opposition movement

Busły liaciać is a Belarusian opposition resistance group founded on 13 November 2020 and fighting against the Alexander Lukashenko government. Included together with the Cyber Partisans in the association "Supraciŭ".

The Belarusian partisan movement is an ongoing campaign of resistance against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko. It began in response to the violent suppression of the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. The partisans aim to depose Lukashenko's government and expel Russian troops from Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus</span> Belarusian government in exile

The United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus is a government in exile for Belarus that was formed in August 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliaksandr Azarau</span>

Aliaksandr Azarau is a former police investigator in Belarusian security services including the Investigative Committee of Belarus and GUBOPiK. As of 2022, he is head of the Belarusian opposition police group BYPOL. Azarau was responsible for law and order as a member of the United Transitional Cabinet of the Belarusian opposition from August 2022 to 6 August 2023.

Events of the year 2023 in Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian military presence in Belarus</span> Presence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus

The Russian military's presence in Belarus has increased greatly in size from its original deployments since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Russian military has been accused of assisting in the crackdown on the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests by supplying weapons and equipment to the Belarusian government and planning to invade the country in case the protests succeeded, and played a significant role in the early stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia currently maintains two military bases in Belarus, and is currently preparing to station tactical nuclear weapons in the country.

References

  1. 1 2 Rofé, Jean (February 27, 2023). "BYPOL: Взрывом на аэродроме в Беларуси поврежден самолет РФ" [BYPOL: Russian plane damaged by explosion at airfield in Belarus]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  2. ↑ "В Беларуси задержали айтишника по делу о взрывах на военном аэродроме в Мачулищах" [An IT specialist was detained in Belarus in the case of explosions at a military airfield in Machulishchi]. Current Time TV (in Russian). April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  3. 1 2 "Антироссийские партизаны в Беларуси ведут борьбу с «двуглавым врагом»" [Anti-Russian partisans in Belarus are fighting the "two-headed enemy"]. Voice of America (in Russian). 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  4. ↑ "Suspects of group that destroyed Russian plane detained: Belarus". AlJazeera . March 7, 2023. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  5. ↑ "The Military Balance 2022" (PDF). The Military Balance. 1 (1). 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  6. ↑ "Russian AWACS plane arrives in Belarus to assist in targeting". Yahoo! News . 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  7. ↑ "Air-raid warning issued throughout Ukraine for 2 hours, MiG took off in Belarus". Yahoo! News . 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  8. ↑ "Explosions At The Machulishchy Airfield: Aircraft Damaged". Charter 97 . February 26, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  9. ↑ "Explosions occur at Machulishchy airbase in Belarus, Russian aircraft damaged". Yahoo! News . 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. ↑ Roth, Andrew; Beaumont, Peter (2023-02-27). "Belarus partisans say they blew up Russian plane near Minsk". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  11. 1 2 "In Belarus, anti-Russia guerrillas sabotage railways, attack warplane to help Ukraine". Los Angeles Times . 2023-03-10. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. ↑ Baker, Sinéad. "Belarus group claims to have blown up an advanced Russian military aircraft, highlighting tensions within one of Putin's closest allies". Business Insider . Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  13. ↑ "Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy'". ABC News . March 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  14. ↑ "Belarus detains 'terrorist' behind attempted sabotage at air base - Lukashenko". Reuters . 2023-03-07. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  15. ↑ "Lukashenko spoke about the attempted sabotage of the A-50 plane in Machulishchi and the detention of the "terrorist of the Ukrainian special services"". The Eastern Herald. 2023-03-07. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  16. ↑ "Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy'". CTVNews . 2023-03-10. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  17. ↑ "Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy'". Associated Press . 2023-03-10. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  18. ↑ "KGB: Defendants in Machulishchi terror attack case face death penalty". The Eastern Herald. 2023-04-03. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  19. ↑ "Belarus: New charges against the leadership of the Human Rights Center". International Federation for Human Rights. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  20. ↑ "Атакованный дронами российский разведсамолёт отправлен на ремонт" [Russian reconnaissance aircraft attacked by drones sent for repairs]. Radio Free Europe (in Russian). 2023-03-03. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-03.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.