Zelensky seeks war‑crimes prosecution of Belarusian leader Lukashenko

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office sent a letter to the country’s prosecutor‑general urging the opening of criminal proceedings against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The request stems from a petition by the exile‑based Belarusian Democratic Forum, which alleges Lukashenko’s involvement in war crimes, genocide and state terrorism, including the forced transfer of at least 2 442 Ukrainian children to Belarus and the use of Belarusian territory and facilities to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian senior aide Oleg Tatarov confirmed that the appeal has been forwarded to prosecutors with a call to take appropriate legal action if statutory conditions are met. The move follows a recent hardening of Zelensky’s stance toward Lukashenko, including an ultimatum to remove Belarus‑based signal‑jamming equipment that Kyiv says aids Russian drones. Lukashenko has denied sending Belarusian troops to the war but continues to back Russian President Vladimir Putin, allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian bases and permitting the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.