(Reuters) – Belarus detained on Tuesday what it said was a “terrorist” working with Ukrainian and U.S. intelligence services over attempted sabotage at a Belarusian air field, the Belta news agency reported, citing President Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarusian anti-government activists said last month they had blown up a sophisticated Russian military surveillance aircraft in a drone attack at an airfield near the Belarusian capital Minsk, a claim disputed by Moscow and Minsk.
“The Security Service of Ukraine, the leadership of the CIA, behind closed doors, are carrying out an operation against the Republic of Belarus. A terrorist was trained,” Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.
Lukashenko said the aircraft had suffered only superficial damage in the attack, which was carried out using a “small drone”, Belta reported.
The suspect detained over the attack against the Beriev A-50 surveillance plane is a dual Russian-Ukrainian national, Belta also cited Lukashenko as saying.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of its military campaign against Kyiv a year ago.
Lukashenko has repeatedly said Belarus may join the conflict directly if its territory comes under attack from Ukraine.
(Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Gareth Jones)
