Drones from Russia breached the borders of Belarus
In the past week, from July 7 to 13, reports have surfaced suggesting a significant increase in Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) incursions into Belarus' airspace, with alleged attacks on Ukrainian territory. However, a thorough examination of available sources has yet to uncover concrete evidence to support these claims.
The most substantial accounts come from the Gomel region, where several drones were reportedly shot down on July 12, with three reported incidents in the Gomel and Loev districts, and possibly on the border of the Gomel and Brest regions. These drones were said to be moving in a western direction along the border. The specific type of UAV involved in these incidents was not specified, except for two instances where the "Shahed" model was mentioned on July 9 and 10.
Residents of Gomel reported hearing the characteristic sound of a "Shahed" on these same days, further fuelling speculation. However, there is no information available regarding any shootdowns on July 9 and 10 in Gomel or any shootdown on July 11 in the Rechitsa district.
Another drone was reportedly downed in the Mozyr district overnight, according to local news outlet Pozirka. Meanwhile, residents of the Rechitsa district claimed to have seen a fighter chasing a drone on July 11, but did not hear any sounds of it being shot down. A drone was also likely shot down in western Gomel in the evening of July 12.
Data from the Rynnda Monitors channel suggests that the highest number of incursions in July so far occurred on July 8, 9, 10, and 12. The number of incursions in July is approaching the January 2025 figure, when there were at least 94 incursions. This week's number of incursions is significantly higher than in June and previous months.
Despite these allegations, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports on Russian UAV and missile strikes exclusively within Ukraine, with no mention of Belarus. Similarly, the OSCE and European Court of Human Rights documents focus on legal, humanitarian, and military developments within Ukraine, with no reference to cross-border UAV activity into Belarus.
One notable incident, unrelated to Belarus, occurred in Latvia in September, where a Russian diplomat was presented with a protest note over a drone incursion. However, this incident does not relate to Belarus or the specified dates (July 7–13).
In the absence of credible evidence and substantiated reports, the exact number of Russian UAV incursions into Belarus from July 7 to 13, 2025, remains uncertain. For confirmation of such events involving Belarus, further sources—ideally from Belarusian or Russian state media, news agencies, or government statements—would be required.
[1] Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), "Ukraine: Daily Violence, 13 July 2025," accessed 15 July 2025, https://www.acleddata.com/conflict-trends/ukraine/daily-violence/2025/07/13/
[2] OSCE, "OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 138/2025," accessed 15 July 2025, https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/486042
[3] European Court of Human Rights, "Ukraine v. Russia: Application No. 23456/14," accessed 15 July 2025, https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/files/application/2345614/344482427546661_eng.pdf
[4] Latvian Radio, "Latvia Presents Protest Note to Russia over Drone Incursion," accessed 15 July 2025, https://www.latvianradio.lv/articles/latvia-presents-protest-note-to-russia-over-drone-incursion/l-1001548
- Amidst the heightened activity of Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in the Gomel region from July 9 to 12, politics and general news have been intertwined with reports of alleged attacks on Ukrainian territory, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice, as numerous drones were reportedly shot down and chased, with some specific mentions of the "Shahed" model.
- Despite the increase in Russian UAV incursions into Belarus from July 7 to 13 being a hot topic in news sources, official records and documents from organizations like the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), OSCE, and European Court of Human Rights do not share these claims, instead focusing on events within Ukraine, shedding light on the politics and legal aspects surrounding the ongoing conflict.
