Zelensky Warns of New Russian Massive Strike as Belarus Gets 1-Week Ultimatum
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 20
Zelensky Warns of New Russian Massive Strike as Belarus Gets 1-Week Ultimatum
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 20
Summary
Zelensky told Ukrainians on June 20 to watch air raid alerts "tonight and in the coming hours," saying Russia had prepared a new large-scale attack as alarms sounded over Kyiv.
The warning followed two Ukrainian mass drone strikes on Moscow in one week, after which Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened fresh attacks on targets supporting Ukraine's military.
Those Moscow strikes disabled the Moscow Oil Refinery, worsening Russia's fuel shortage, while Zelensky called them a just response to Russian attacks that have intensified in spring 2026.
Zelensky also warned Belarus to dismantle equipment along the border that he said helps Russia launch drones at Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn, a day after giving Minsk 1 week to comply or face Ukrainian action.
The Belarus threat marks one of Kyiv's bluntest public warnings to Minsk since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Ukraine has given Belarus a one-week ultimatum. If Minsk refuses to comply, what happens next on Europe's northern front?
As Ukrainian drones cripple Russia's economy from afar, is this the key to finally breaking the battlefield stalemate?
Ukraine Threatens Military Action Against Belarus: The Relay Equipment Ultimatum and Its Geopolitical Consequences
Overview
On June 20, 2026, after a deadly Russian bomb strike on Kharkiv that killed and injured civilians, Ukrainian President Zelensky warned of more attacks and urged people to stay alert. In response to ongoing threats, Ukraine issued a one-week ultimatum to Belarus, demanding the removal of Russian and Belarusian relay equipment from border towers near the border. Ukraine threatened military action if Belarus did not comply, highlighting the risk of escalation. This crisis shows how recent violence, urgent warnings, and strategic demands are pushing the region toward a dangerous confrontation.