BELARUS–UKRAINE BORDER — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday reiterated warnings to Belarus against involvement in Russia's invasion and reported unusual military activity near the Ukraine–Belarus border. He announced that new roads and artillery positions were being set up along the frontier.

"We are closely documenting everything and keeping the situation under control," Zelenskyy said. "Everyone who is being drawn into any aggressive actions against Ukraine must understand that the country is ready to defend its sovereignty."

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Belarus has increased military activity in recent weeks by building roads toward Ukraine and setting up artillery positions. He linked the buildup to broader battlefield dynamics, saying he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to draw Ukrainian troops to the northern border as Russian troop numbers decline.

"We are also observing attempts by the occupying forces to regroup most likely in order to compensate for a shortage of personnel," he said. "In this context, it is becoming increasingly clear why military activity in Belarus has increased."

Last month, he warned Minsk against getting entangled in the conflict, saying he believed Moscow would attempt to draw it into its war. He repeated that assessment on Saturday. "We believe that Russia may once again attempt to drag Belarus into its war," he said.

In December, he accused Russia of using apartment blocks in Belarus to launch attacks and circumvent Ukraine's defenses. Russian forces launched their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by crossing the border from Belarus toward Kyiv, with Belarusian territory used as a staging ground for the full-scale offensive. Belarus did not participate directly in fighting following the 2022 invasion.

Ukrainian armed forces estimate that 1.3 million Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that Russian military casualties are roughly double Ukrainian casualties, a ratio of 2-to-1.