Ukraine boosts its defenses near Belarus amid concerns the Russian ally will join the war

More than four years ago, Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to invade Ukraine.

Now officials in Kyiv warn that Belarus may again provide a launchpad for a new Russian attack.

While Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko hasn’t sent any troops into Ukraine, he has backed the war effort by his longtime ally Russia.

Belarus has hosted Russia’s nuclear weapons and military infrastructure and produced components for Moscow’s war industries.

Earlier this month, the countries held joint drills of nuclear forces that involved Russian weapons deployed in Belarus.

Close military cooperation between Moscow and Minsk has increasingly worried Ukraine’s Western allies.