Belarus

Ukrainian evacuees reach Belarus as Melania Trump-brokered Oleshky ceasefire takes effect

The local ceasefire in Oleshky was reached thanks to mediation efforts by US First Lady Melania Trump with the pope's involvement.

|ByREUTERS
People disembark a plane carrying residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky, in Gomel, Belarus October 31, 2026.
CELEBRATING HIS VICTORY over Daniel Santos in Las Vegas on Nov. 14, 2009, alongside legendary promoter Bob Arum, after becoming Israel’s first major professional boxing world champion. Arum had told Foreman that promoting a Jewish world champion was one of his ambitions.

Fighting for belonging: A Jewish boxer's extraordinary journey through poverty, faith, and tragedy

Within a decade, Yuri Foreman became a world champion, representing a country where he had once struggled to feel accepted and carving out a place in the long history of Jewish boxing.

|ByALEX WINSTON
FILE PHOTO: Released political prisoners arrive in Vilnius after a prisoner release from Belarus on March 19, 2026. Belarus freed 250 political prisoners on March 19, 2026 following negotiations with the United States.

Belarus frees 25 more prisoners in return for easing of US sanctions

Coale told Reuters on Wednesday he expects to visit the country again around one month from now, hoping to secure the release of hundreds more prisoners.

|ByREUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, in Moscow, Russia February 26, 2026.

Russia pumps up pressure on Belarus to open new front in Ukraine war, eyes anti-NATO ops. - WSJ

Sources told the WSJ that if Belarus were used for a Russian attack, it could be aimed at testing NATO defenses or more attempts at undermining support for Ukraine.

|ByCORINNE BAUM, REUTERS

Former Wagner boss appears half naked in bizarre photo leaked online

Despite his state of undress, Prigozhin has developed a reputation as a fashionista.

JULY 15, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin widely known by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky, who was recently killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe, in Moscow, Russia, April 8, 2023.

Wagner fighters preparing to move to Belarus - commander cited

An adviser to Belarus' defence ministry said on Friday that nobody from the Wagner group had yet visited the disused military camp that Lukashenko had offered for the fighters' use.

JULY 8, 2023ByREUTERS
Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023

NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus

"You know where you are situated geographically, and you know pretty well where the threat is coming from", said Lt Col Steffen Lieb, commander of the Patriot deployment.

JULY 8, 2023ByREUTERS
A member of Lithuanian Riflemen's Union and a Border Guard officer patrol along Belarus border in Kaniukai, Lithuania July 7, 2023.

Lukashenko: I have veto over use of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

Belarusian President Lukashenko stated he has a veto on use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed on Belarusian territory.

JULY 6, 2023ByREUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia February 18, 2022.

Belarus leader says: I'm not the last dictator in Europe

Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, dismissed claims that he was "Europe's last dictator" on Thursday.

JULY 6, 2023ByREUTERS
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon in Dushanbe, Tajikistan October 11, 2022

Prigozhin back in Russia, Wagner deployment unclear - Belarus

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, is no longer in Belarus and there are reports that he may have returned to Russia.

JULY 6, 2023ByREUTERS
Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group stand on a tank outside a local circus near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023

Iran to be accepted to SCO at summit attended by Putin and Xi

China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will participate in the virtual summit, which will be Putin’s first appearance at an international event.

JULY 4, 2023ByREUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022.

Poland hopes to join NATO nuclear sharing agreement over Russian threat

Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki stated that Poland wants to join NATO's nuclear weapons sharing program, in response to Russia's deployment of nuclear warheads to Belarus.

JULY 2, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A member of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service keeps watch at the Senkivka checkpoint near the border with Belarus and Russia in the Chernihiv region, Ukraine, February 16, 2022.

Belarus leader says nuclear arms will not be used

The Belarusian president, in an address marking his ex-Soviet state's national day, said the stationing of the weapons in Belarus was "my firmest initiative".

JULY 1, 2023ByREUTERS
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists during his visit to a military-industrial complex facility in the Minsk Region, Belarus June 13, 2023.

Wagner's Prigozhin is far from safe in Belarus, opposition leader admits

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also expressed concern that Wagner would be used to further oppress the people of Belarus.

JUNE 29, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks inside the headquarters of the Russian southern army military command center, which is taken under control of Wagner PMC, according to him, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023,