Zelenskyy: Lukashenko apologised at start of war and suggested striking refinery in Belarus

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that on the second or third day of Russia's full-scale invasion, self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko apologised in a phone call for the missile strikes being launched on Ukraine from Belarusian territory and even suggested that Ukraine retaliate by striking the Mozyr Oil Refinery in Belarus.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman

Quote: "And later, a few days into the war, I spoke with Lukashenko on the phone, and he apologised. And he said, ‘It was not me; missiles were launched from my territory, and Putin was the one launching them.’ These are his words; I have witnesses. ‘And I apologise,’ he said. ‘But believe me’ – that's what he told me – ‘Volodya, this is not me. I’m not in charge,’ he told me, ‘I’m not in charge, these are just missiles, this is Putin.’

I told him, ‘You are a murderer too, I'm just saying.’ And he told me, ‘You must understand, you can't fight the Russians.’ I told him that we never fought them. I said, ‘It's war, the missiles came from your land, from Belarus. How did you allow this?’

Then he replied, ‘All right, retaliate then.’ I still remember him telling me. ‘Hit the refinery, you know how much I care about it.’ The Mozyr Oil Refinery. I told him, ‘What are you on about, what retaliation?’"

Details: Zelenskyy said this conversation occurred "on the second or third day of the war".

Support UP or become our patron!