Russia has deployed a MiG-31K interceptor to Belarus.

This is reported by the monitoring project Belaruski Gayun.

It is reported that the Kinzhal long-range air-launched ballistic missile carrier landed near Minsk at the Machulishchi airfield.

The air base is used by the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Republic of Belarus. It is capable of receiving both fighter aircraft and heavy military transport and strategic aircraft.

Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft were previously based at this airfield.

Machulishchi is located almost 240 kilometers from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

Russian MiG-31Ks have been absent from Belarus for 1.5 years, with the last aircraft, RF-92215, RF-92445 and RF-95194, departing the country on April 6, 2023.

It is not known for what purpose the Russians moved the aircraft to Belarus, but the possibility of combat use should not be ruled out.

Recently, Militarnyi reported that the Belarusian government introduced a restricted area for civil aviation flights in the south of the country on October 1, 2024.

NOTAMN O0597/24 states that the restriction zone for flights of all types of civilian aircraft and UAVs at altitudes up to 19,800 meters in the south of the country has been extended from 00:00 on October 1 to 23:59 on December 31, 2024.

Through this zone, Russian air assets are constantly entering Ukrainian airspace.

In early September, it was reported that the Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile that attacked Lviv on September 4 had entered Ukrainian airspace via Belarus.