View source for Machulishchy air base attack

{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Machulishchy air base attack
| place             = Belarus, Minsk region, Machulishchi airport
| partof            = the [[Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)]] and the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
| combatant1        = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Belarus_(1918,_1991–1995).svg|20px}} [[Belarusian opposition]]
| combatant2        = {{RUS}}
| date              = February 26, 2023
| image             = Russian Federation Air Force Beriev A-50M aircraft.JPG
| caption           = Aircraft A-50U (RF-50608) in the year 2011<ref name="Rofe">{{Cite web |last=Rofé |first=Jean |date=February 27, 2023 |title=BYPOL: Взрывом на аэродроме в Беларуси поврежден самолет РФ |trans-title=BYPOL: Russian plane damaged by explosion at airfield in Belarus |url=https://www.dw.com/ru/bypol-vzryvom-na-voennom-aerodrome-v-belarusi-povrezden-samolet-rf/a-64826748 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=ru|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501220549/https://www.dw.com/ru/bypol-vzryvom-na-voennom-aerodrome-v-belarusi-povrezden-samolet-rf/a-64826748|archive-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref>
| combatant1a       = {{flagicon image|BYPOL._Аб'яднанне_сілавікоў_Беларусі.png|20px}} [[BYPOL]]
| combatant2a       = {{flagicon image|Great_emblem_of_the_Russian_Aerospace_Forces.svg|20px}} [[Russian Aerospace Forces]]
}}
{{Campaignbox Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

On February 26, 2023, at the [[Machulishchy (air base)|Machulishchy military airfield]], around 12 kilometers from [[Minsk]], a [[Beriev A-50|Russian A-50]] early warning military aircraft was damaged as a result of explosions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2023 |title=В Беларуси задержали айтишника по делу о взрывах на военном аэродроме в Мачулищах |trans-title=An IT specialist was detained in Belarus in the case of explosions at a military airfield in Machulishchi |url=https://www.currenttime.tv/a/diversiya-v-machulishakh/32350221.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=[[Current Time TV]] |language=ru |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419082726/https://www.currenttime.tv/a/diversiya-v-machulishakh/32350221.html|archive-date= April 19, 2023}}</ref> BYPOL claimed responsibility for the drone attack. Belarusian president [[Alexander Lukashenko]] acknowledged the attack only a week later, stating that the damage to the aircraft was minor. Later, he admitted that the A-50 still had to be sent to Russia for repairs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Антироссийские партизаны в Беларуси ведут борьбу с "двуглавым врагом" |trans-title=Anti-Russian partisans in Belarus are fighting the "two-headed enemy" |url=https://www.golosameriki.com/a/anti-russia-guerrillas-in-belarus-take-on-two-headed-enemy/7000638.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=[[Voice of America]] |date=12 March 2023 |language=ru|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406175648/https://www.golosameriki.com/a/anti-russia-guerrillas-in-belarus-take-on-two-headed-enemy/7000638.html|archive-date= April 6, 2023}}</ref>

== Russian A-50 in Belarus ==
Alexander Lukashenko, being an ally of Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], allowed Russia to use the territory of Belarus as a launching pad for the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Suspects of group that destroyed Russian plane detained: Belarus |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/7/belarus-detains-person-behind-attempted-sabotage-of-russian-plane |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|AlJazeera]] |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503103419/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/7/belarus-detains-person-behind-attempted-sabotage-of-russian-plane|archive-date= May 3, 2023}}</ref>  After the beginning of the invasion, the resistance members from Belarus, who called themselves "partisans", began to carry out sabotage on the railways used by Russian troops. At the time of the incident in Machulishchy, Belarusian partisans claimed involvement in 17 major railway sabotages.<ref name=":0" />

According to the publication ''[[International Institute for Strategic Studies|Military Balance]]'', for 2022 the [[Russian Air Force]] had three A-50's and six A-50U's.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=2022 |title=The Military Balance 2022 |url=https://www.iwp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Military-Balance-2022.pdf |journal=The Military Balance |volume=1 |issue=1 |access-date=2023-04-27|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501074811/https://www.iwp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Military-Balance-2022.pdf|archive-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref> The cost of such an aircraft is estimated at $330 million  According to the monitoring group "Belarus Gayan" A-50U aircraft with registration number RF-50608 flew to Belarus on January 3, 2023 and by the time of the incident made 12 flights.<ref name="Rofe"/> According to the Belarusian authorities, this long-range radar detection and control aircraft was used by them to monitor their border. According to the Belarusian partisans, who was stationed in their station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian AWACS plane arrives in Belarus to assist in targeting |url=https://news.yahoo.com/russian-awacs-plane-arrives-belarus-131623679.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=14 December 2022 |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504221952/https://news.yahoo.com/russian-awacs-plane-arrives-belarus-131623679.html|archive-date= May 4, 2023}}</ref> In this regard, the ''[[Ukrainska Pravda]]'' noted that aircraft carrying [[Kh-47M2 Kinzhal|Kinzhal]] hypersonic missiles usually took off from the Machulishchi airfield, which is why an air force was declared in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air-raid warning issued throughout Ukraine for 2 hours, MiG took off in Belarus |url=https://news.yahoo.com/air-raid-warning-issued-over-091013736.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=23 March 2023 |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501135245/https://news.yahoo.com/air-raid-warning-issued-over-091013736.html|archive-date= May 1, 2023}}</ref>

== The course of the attack ==
On the morning of February 26, 2023, at the Belarusian military airfield "Machulishchi", located 12&nbsp;km from Minsk, there were explosions. After that, activists from BYPOL reported that as a result of at least two explosions, a Russian military transport aircraft and snowplows were damaged.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2023 |title=Explosions At The Machulishchy Airfield: Aircraft Damaged |url=https://charter97.org/en/news/2023/2/26/537908/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Charter 97]] |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501152811/https://charter97.org/en/news/2023/2/26/537908/|archive-date= May 1, 2023}}</ref>  It was reported that in the area of the airfield, local residents observed a large number of military and traffic police crews, They checked all passing cars. Later, BYPOL reported that sabotage was committed at the military airfield, as a result of which the Russian military long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 was seriously damaged - its front and central parts, as well as avionics and radar, were damaged.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explosions occur at Machulishchy airbase in Belarus, Russian aircraft damaged |url=https://news.yahoo.com/explosions-occur-machulishchy-airbase-belarus-143337249.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=26 February 2023 |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501160207/https://news.yahoo.com/explosions-occur-machulishchy-airbase-belarus-143337249.html|archive-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref>

The incident was initially denied by both the Belarusian and Russian sides.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |last2=Beaumont |first2=Peter |date=2023-02-27 |title=Belarus partisans say they blew up Russian plane near Minsk |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/27/belarus-anti-war-partisans-russian-plane-drones-machulishchy-damage-claim |access-date=2023-05-01 |issn=0261-3077|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505093730/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/27/belarus-anti-war-partisans-russian-plane-drones-machulishchy-damage-claim|archive-date= May 5, 2023}}</ref>  However, a month later, Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged the attack, saying that the damage to the plane was minor. Later, he nevertheless admitted that the A-50 had to be sent to Russia for repairs.<ref name="LA Times">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=In Belarus, anti-Russia guerrillas sabotage railways, attack warplane to help Ukraine |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-03-10/anti-russia-guerrillas-belarus-sabotage-war-ukraine |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502095740/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-03-10/anti-russia-guerrillas-belarus-sabotage-war-ukraine|archive-date= May 2, 2023}}</ref>

== Organizers ==
Responsibility for the drone attack was claimed by the Association of Security Forces of Belarus (BYPOL), the core of which is made up of former military men who disagree with the policy of the country's authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Sinéad |title=Belarus group claims to have blown up an advanced Russian military aircraft, highlighting tensions within one of Putin's closest allies |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/belarus-group-claims-to-destroy-russia-military-aircraft-minsk-2023-2 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505061527/https://www.businessinsider.com/belarus-group-claims-to-destroy-russia-military-aircraft-minsk-2023-2|archive-date= May 5, 2023}}</ref>  BYPOL works closely with the team of the leader of the Belarusian opposition in exile, [[Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya]]. BYPOL leader [[Aliaksandr Azarau]] said in an interview with [[Belsat TV|Belsat]], that all the people who carried out the attack were able to leave Belarus safely and confirmed that it was carried out by drones.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/anti-russia-guerrillas-belarus-headed-enemy-97762221 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505061527/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/anti-russia-guerrillas-belarus-headed-enemy-97762221|archive-date= May 5, 2023}}</ref>

Alexander Lukashenko announced the arrest of the perpetrator of the attack, a dual citizen of Ukraine and Russia, along with more than 20 accomplices and accused them of having links with the [[Special forces of Ukraine|Ukrainian special services]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-03-07 |title=Belarus detains 'terrorist' behind attempted sabotage at air base - Lukashenko |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-detains-terrorist-behind-attempted-sabotage-air-field-base-belta-2023-03-07/ |access-date=2023-05-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329065732/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-detains-terrorist-behind-attempted-sabotage-air-field-base-belta-2023-03-07/|archive-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-07 |title=Lukashenko spoke about the attempted sabotage of the A-50 plane in Machulishchi and the detention of the "terrorist of the Ukrainian special services" |url=https://www.easternherald.com/2023/03/07/lukashenko-spoke-about-the-attempted-sabotage-of-the-a-50-plane-in-machulishchi-and-the-detention-of-the-terrorist-of-the-ukrainian-special-services/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The Eastern Herald |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505044235/https://www.easternherald.com/2023/03/07/lukashenko-spoke-about-the-attempted-sabotage-of-the-a-50-plane-in-machulishchi-and-the-detention-of-the-terrorist-of-the-ukrainian-special-services/|archive-date= May 5, 2023}}</ref>  BYPOL and the Ukrainian authorities rejected accusations of Kiev's involvement. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said that the person named by Lukashenka as the executor is not familiar to him.<ref name="LA Times"/>

== Reaction and aftermath ==
BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said that the group is preparing other operations to liberate Belarus "from Russian occupation" and liberate Belarus from the [[Alexander Lukashenko|Lukashenka]] regime, noting that they now have a "two-headed enemy".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy' |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/anti-russia-guerrillas-in-belarus-take-on-two-headed-enemy-1.6308430 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[CTVNews]] |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502181848/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/anti-russia-guerrillas-in-belarus-take-on-two-headed-enemy-1.6308430|archive-date= May 2, 2023}}</ref>

Ukrainian authorities have rejected accusations of involvement in the incident.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on 'two-headed enemy' |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-belarus-guerillas-sabotage-2c5074209663a2403752bb0c6404b32e |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317141427/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-belarus-guerillas-sabotage-2c5074209663a2403752bb0c6404b32e|archive-date= March 17, 2023}}</ref>

The ONT TV channel, citing the deputy head of the Investigative Directorate of the [[State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus|KGB of Belarus]], Konstantin Bychek, reported that in the case of the incident with the plane at the military airfield in Machulishchy - about 30 defendants, they may face death.  It is known about the detention of IT specialist Dmitry Mostovoy. All the detainees were charged under the article on the terrorist attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-04-03 |title=KGB: Defendants in Machulishchi terror attack case face death penalty |url=https://www.easternherald.com/2023/04/03/kgb-defendants-in-machulishchi-terror-attack-case-face-death-penalty-reuters/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The Eastern Herald |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504185805/https://www.easternherald.com/2023/04/03/kgb-defendants-in-machulishchi-terror-attack-case-face-death-penalty-reuters/|archive-date= May 4, 2023}}</ref>

The Human Rights Center "[[Viasna Human Rights Centre|Viasna]]" reported that the former deputy minister of communications of Belarus and assistant to the chairman of the board of the [[Eurasian Economic Commission]] (EEC) was detained in Russia, Dmitry Shedko, who could be associated with people involved in sabotage in Machulishchy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belarus: New charges against the leadership of the Human Rights Center |url=https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/belarus-new-charges-against-the-leadership-of-the-human-rights-center |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=International Federation for Human Rights |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502181849/https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/belarus-new-charges-against-the-leadership-of-the-human-rights-center|archive-date= May 2, 2023}}</ref>

According to the calculations of military expert Ilya Kramnik, quoted by [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Liberty]], at the end of November 2022, Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft spent about 40 hours in the air in the war zone in Ukraine, this means that most of the time the Russian army already received insufficient information from them, while the Ukrainian army was supplied with intelligence information by [[NATO]] countries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-03 |title=Атакованный дронами российский разведсамолёт отправлен на ремонт |language=ru |trans-title=Russian reconnaissance aircraft attacked by drones sent for repairs |work=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Free Europe]] |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/atakovannyy-dronami-rossiyskiy-razvedyvateljnyy-samolyot-otpravlen-na-remont-iz-zony-voyny/32298309.html |access-date=2023-05-03|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304101833/https://www.svoboda.org/a/atakovannyy-dronami-rossiyskiy-razvedyvateljnyy-samolyot-otpravlen-na-remont-iz-zony-voyny/32298309.html|archive-date= March 4, 2023}}</ref>

In November 2023, it became known that Belarusian IT specialist Dmitry Mostovoy was sentenced to 10 years in prison, having been accused of organizing an online broadcast from the Machulishchy air base shortly before the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ru.krymr.com/a/news-belarus-prigovor-povrezhdeniye-a-50-machulishchi/32678101.html|title=Суд в Беларуси вынес первый приговор по делу о повреждении российского военного самолета А-50 в Мачулищах|date=November 9, 2023|language=ru}}</ref>

In June 2024, Nikolai Shvets, a Ukrainian national, detained by Belarusian security forces for the attack in Machulishchy, was released as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/02/07/2024/6684481c9a79471bc49e9685|title=Обвиняемого в атаке на российский А-50 обменяли на митрополита Ионафана|work=[[RBK Group]]|date=July 2, 2024|language=ru}}</ref>

On 4 October 2024, a court convicted 12 people, seven of them in absentia (including Azarau and Shvets), over their role in the attack and sentenced them to up to 25 years' imprisonment. Four of the defendants were convicted for terrorism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2024 |title=Belarus sentences 12 to up to 25 years for attack on Russian warplane |website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-war-ukraine-drone-terrorism-6a5ded918fc28266373948e3be12919d }}</ref>

== References ==

<references />{{Russian invasion of Ukraine|Military}}

{{coord missing|Belarus}}

[[Category:February 2023 events in Belarus]]
[[Category:2023 in Belarus]]
[[Category:Belarus in the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Spillover of the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Drone strikes]]
[[Category:Attacks on air bases]]
[[Category:2023 airstrikes]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in 2023]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Belarus]]
[[Category:Attacks on airports in Europe]]