Russia actively using Belarusian airspace, but Kinzhal missile was launched from Russia – Ukraine's Air Force

The enemy is actively using Belarusian airspace, but a Kinzhal missile that entered Ukrainian airspace from the direction of Belarus on August 5 was launched from Russian territory.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said this on Ukrainian television.

"It [the missile] was launched from a MiG-31K aircraft from the Tambov area. As it flies along the route, at the crossroads of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, it enters Belarusian airspace, and there are no problems for the Russians here," Ihnat said.

He explained that media reports about an attack from Belarusian territory were incorrect.

"If a missile flies and enters Belarusian airspace, it appears somewhere over Belarus and flies in the direction of the Khmelnytskyi region, accordingly the person on duty will write 'A Kinzhal is flying from the direction of Belarus.' That's all, and there is no need to manipulate the headlines that missiles are flying from Belarus. […] Russia has been actively using Belarusian airspace since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Their troops, planes, Wagner forces are there, so there's nothing new here," he said.

Ihnat also recalled that it is the Kinzhals that are the most difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept.