Lukashenko has reappeared in public

After days of speculation about his health, Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has reappeared for a date with the military. State television in Minsk showed the 68-year-old man wearing a green military uniform yesterday. Previously there were reports of an illness and an alleged hospital stay of the politician, who disappeared from the scene for several days.

“Let’s look at what is happening throughout our country, and especially in the air,” said Lukashenko. Then he went straight to shoot down helicopters and planes in the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine and Belarus, which was not previously confirmed by the Russian leadership.

Lukashenko said the events in the Russian region on Saturday had put Belarus on high alert.

Four planes were shot down there.

Four planes were shot down. We had to respond to that. Since then, we have been in a state of increasing readiness.” So far, the Russian authorities have only confirmed the helicopter “crash”, but they did not give any details.

On the other hand, Russian media reported that two Su-34 and Su-35 Sukhoi fighter jets and two Mi-8 helicopters were shot down by missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force denied any involvement.