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

Belarus and Iran sign cooperation deal for 2023-2026

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was in Iran to discuss bilateral ties on economic issues, but it was unclear if defense ties were on the agenda.

MARCH 13, 2023BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Belarus to work on new military doctrine -Russian news agencies

Belarusian Security Council has instructed the defense ministry to finalize the draft law on forming a new voluntary territorial defense within a month.

MARCH 8, 2023ByREUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting in Russia last month. Lukashenko has said Armenia can’t avoid Russia bringing it into an axis with Belarus.

Belarus court sentences Nobel Peace Prize winner to 10 years in prison -TASS

Byalyatski is a pro-democracy activist and founder of the Viasna human rights group which provided aid to Belarusian protesters in 2020.

MARCH 3, 2023ByREUTERS
Human rights activist Ales Byalyatski, founder of the organisation Viasna (Belarus), receives the 2020 Right Livelihood Award at the digital award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden December 3, 2020.

Russian military aircraft damaged by Belarusian anti-gov't drone strike

Front and central parts of the aircraft as well as the radar antenna were damaged as a result of two explosions in the attack at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk

FEBRUARY 27, 2023ByREUTERS
A view shows the wreckage, which Ukrainian military officials said is the remains of a Russian Air Force assault aircraft, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in a field outside the town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 4, 2022.

Lukashenko says he held long conversation with Putin on anniversary of war

Belarusian President Lukashenko is a close ally of Russia and has allowed Russian forces to attack Ukraine from Belarusian borders.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023ByREUTERS
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich in Minsk, Belarus November 30, 2020.

Aliyah from Russia still high: More than 5,000 immigrants in January

The number of immigrants from Russia isn't coming down - in fact, this January saw the second most immigrants in a month since the war broke out.

FEBRUARY 21, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
New immigrants from USA and Canada arrive on a special " Aliyah Flight 2016" on behalf of Nefesh B'Nefesh organization, at Ben Gurion airport in central Israel on August 17, 2016,

Jewish Agency lowers profile in Russia, less activity in FSU countries - exclusive

Apart from political considerations, steep budget cuts by the Aliyah Ministry have led to a marked decrease in the Agency's activity.

FEBRUARY 21, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
Andrei Grishayev, a lawyer of the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, speaks with journalists after a hearing outside a court building in Moscow, Russia, February 20, 2023.

Jewish Agency tells Belarus staff to stop promoting aliyah, retracts

It wasn't specified in any of the letters why the Jewish Agency has asked to cancel or freeze the activities that were meant to promote aliyah from Belarus.

JANUARY 29, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
The flag of Belarus mixed with the flag of Israel (Illustrative).

US sanctions on Iran cause turmoil in Iraq

To prevent US dollars from reaching Russia and Iran, the Federal Reserve will strictly regulate dollar sales in Iraq, leading to a volatile dinar.

JANUARY 20, 2023ByHUDHAIFA EBRAHIM/THE MEDIA LINE
Missiles of the kind used during Iran's retaliatory strike on the U.S Ayn al-Asad military base in 2020 are seen on display at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran January 7, 2022.

Russia's new deputy commander in Ukraine war inspects troops in Belarus

Russian deputy commander meets with troops in Belarus, sparking new concerns for Ukraine.

JANUARY 12, 2023ByREUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference in Minsk, Belarus December 19, 2022.