Category: Belarus

Airbnb CEO Announces Company Suspending All Operations in Russia, Belarus

Airbnb is suspending its operations in Russia and Belarus, Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky announced on Thursday. Chesky made the announcement on Twitter shortly after the company said it would offer free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the invasion by Russian forces. The home rental company’s CEO did not provide further details as…


US Announces Export Curbs on Belarus, Russian Oil Refining Equipment

The Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled a wave of export controls targeting oil refining, a key revenue source that supports the Russian military, a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin began his invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The White House outlined additional economic costs on Russia and Belarus in response to Putin’s “brutal” invasion of Ukraine.  “The…


UN General Assembly Calls For Immediate Withdrawal of Russian Forces From Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly approved on March 2 a resolution denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while calling for an immediate and peaceful withdrawal of all troops. The vote was 141 to 5, with 35 of the body’s 193 members abstaining. It was the first time the assembly convened an emergency session since 1997. Assembly…


Belarus President May Have Shared a Map of Russia’s Invasion Plans

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko appeared to stand in front of a map that shows plans to invade the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova while he was holding a meeting with officials that was broadcast via state-run media. “At today’s security council meeting, Lukashenko showed what looks like an actual invasion map,” Belarussian journalist Tadeusz Giczan…


Belarus President Denies Reports Belarusian Troops Entered Ukraine

The president of Belarus on March 1 denied reports that his troops had entered Ukraine. “The Belarusian army has not and will not take any part in the military action,” President Alexander Lukashenko said at a Belarusian Security Council meeting in Minsk. “The question is why? Do they not have the same weapons we do?…


US Defense Official: Russian Troop Morale ‘Is Flagging’ in Some Units

A senior U.S. Department of Defense official told reporters on a call that intelligence has “indications that morale is flagging in some” of the Russian forces’ units. “We have picked up independently on our own, indications that morale is flagging in some of these units. That they again did not expect the resistance that they were…


US Tells American Citizens to Leave Russia ‘Immediately’ as Flights Canceled

The U.S. State Department on Feb. 27 said American citizens should consider leaving Russia immediately as airlines cancel flights from the country amid the Russia–Ukraine war. “An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines,” the agency said in a security…


US Closes Embassy in Belarus, Accusing Country of ‘Complicity in Russia’s War Against Ukraine’

The United States closed its embassy in the capital of Belarus, a neighbor of Ukraine, and all American staff have left the country, officials announced Feb. 28. Belarus shares borders with Ukraine and Russia and has been letting the Russian military send troops through its space to bring attacks from additional fronts against Ukrainian forces,…


Belarus Set to Amend Non-Nuclear Constitution Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Belarus is set to make amendments to its non-nuclear constitution to allow for nuclear weapons after a referendum was held on Sunday amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Belarus Central Election Commission said that voter turnout stood at 78.61 percent, of which 65.2 percent voted in favor of the change. The amendments give Belarusian President…


Ukraine President Agrees to Hold Talks ‘Without Preconditions’ With Russia in Belarus

In a sign of de-escalation, Ukrainian officials said they will meet with their Russian counterparts near the Ukraine-Belarus border as Russian President Vladimir Putin said he’s putting his nuclear forces on high alert. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Kyiv government agreed to talks with Moscow on the border. It’s not clear if Zelensky will…