Ukraine imposes sanctions on Lukashenko: What we know so far
On Wednesday, February 18, Ukraine introduced a package of sanctions against the Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko.
Alexander Lukashenko. / © Getty Images
«Kyiv will work with partners to ensure this has a global effect, ” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
«Alexander Lukashenko has long traded Belarus’s sovereignty for the extension of his personal power, helped Russians circumvent global sanctions over this aggression, actively justified Russia’s war, and is now increasing his own participation in expanding and prolonging the war, ” Zelenskyy said.
The president also pointed out that in the second half of 2025 Russia deployed a relay transmitter system in Belarus to control strike drones, increasing the occupying army’s capacity to hit Ukraine’s northern regions from the Kyiv area to Volyn.
«Some of the strikes, including on energy facilities and railways in our regions, would not have been possible without such assistance from Belarus, ” he said.
In addition, more than 3,000 Belarusian enterprises have been «placed at the service of Russia’s war, supplying machinery, equipment and critically important components, including for missile production.
According to Zelenskyy, work is also underway to build infrastructure for the deployment of Oreshnik intermediate-range missiles in Belarus. The head of state stressed that this «poses an obvious threat not only to Ukrainians but to all Europeans.»
«Alexander Lukashenko has not only provided Belarusian territory for the Oreshnik. Last year, the country’s enterprises supplied Russia with critical units, components and the mechanical base for this weapon. This is continuing in 2026, ” Zelenskyy added.