Russia Preparing For Ukraine Air Ops? AWACS Plane Spent Night Training With Fighter Jets In Belarus

Amid speculations over whether Belarus would join Russia in the Ukraine invasion, reports have emerged that a Russian A-50U early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft was spotted circling over Belarus. This comes amid reports that Russian Air Force is upping the ante and inducting upgraded frontline bombers.

The aircraft, which can detect hostile aircraft while simultaneously tracking and guiding a bigger number of fighters toward targets, was reportedly helping fighter jets to aim targets in Ukraine, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The report, quoting the monitoring group "Belarusian Gayun," said there was an increased aviation activity over Belarus throughout the night on Monday.

The aircraft, with registration number RF-94268, was first spotted around 10.50 p.m. Sunday. It took off from the military airfield in Machulishchy, a town in Belarus. The aircraft is said to have provided coordinates to fighter pilots for strikes on targets.

The A-50 then flew all night in circles from Baranovichi to Slutsk, changing altitudes from 9,150 meters to 9,700 meters, the report added. It landed only around 4.39 a.m. at the military airfield in Machulishchy. The advanced aircraft was in the air for more than five hours.

Russian fighter jets too were spotted around the same region throughout the night, working alternately with the A-50 in pairs at altitudes from 7,000 to 8,000 meters.

According to the researchers at "Belarusian Gayun," the fighter jet pilots discussed with the A-50U aircraft the visibility of targets for strikes on the territory of Ukraine. This could continue in the coming days and "may even become a new daily practice," the researchers added.

The A-50U aircraft is designated to detect, track and identify aerial, large ground and naval targets, transmit the relevant data to command posts, guide fighters to aerial targets and frontline combat aircraft to ground and naval targets.

Meanwhile, reports quoting western intelligence agencies said Russian soldiers and weapons systems were waiting in Belarus to open a new front against Ukraine. There are concerns that Belarus could launch a land invasion by mid-July.

Though it is unclear if Belarus will officially join the "special operation," Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has been very vocal about his support for Putin, stating he has supported Moscow's invasion of Ukraine "from the very first day."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously expressed hope that Minsk wouldn't be dragged into the conflict. "But there are and will be provocations," Zelensky said.