According to the Viasna human rights group, the Minsk City Court has sentenced 12 people to prison for their involvement in the sabotage of the Machulishchy military airfield in Belarus last year. The airfield, which has been used by the Russian military during their war against Ukraine, was allegedly sabotaged by Belarusian partisans on February 26, 2023, causing damage to a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft.
The suspects were charged with up to 11 criminal articles, including terrorism and treason, and received sentences ranging from two to 25 years in prison. Some of the sentences were handed down in absentia, including that of Ukrainian citizen Mykola Shvets, who was named by Belarusian authorities as the “main perpetrator” of the sabotage and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The trial, which was held behind closed doors, began on August 19. According to RFE/RL’s Belarusian service, some of the defendants may not have been directly involved in the sabotage and may not have known about its preparation. However, they were still charged and sentenced.
In addition to Shvets, six other sentences were issued in absentia. Shvets was initially detained in March 2023 but was released in June of that year along with four other Ukrainian citizens who were also detained in Belarus, as well as others held by Russia.
The A-50 aircraft, which provides critical functions for the ongoing war in Ukraine, such as detecting air defense systems and coordinating targets for Russian fighter jets, is a valuable asset for Russia. However, they have lost two of these planes in early 2024, one in January and another on February 23, to Ukrainian attacks. The cost of one A-50 aircraft is approximately $330 million.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, Russia now only has six of these planes left in service. The damaged aircraft from Belarus is reportedly undergoing repairs at a facility in Taganrog, Russia.
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