Lukashenko explained why Russia did not seize Kiev in the first days when ‘Zelenskyy was staying in a cellar’
In an interview with Ukrainian journalist Diana Panchenko, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, explained how military events around Kiev had been actually developing at the beginning of the Russian special military operation in early 2022, BelTA reports
"That was really an issue of several days. If Russians occupied Kiev, can you imagine what kind of war it would be for you? The war would have ended already," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The journalist noted that people in Ukraine think that Zelenskyy defended Kiev and that the Ukrainian army repelled the invasion of Russian troops.
"Listen, this is a fairy tale – and nothing more. All this was probably created by the media and Zelenskyy himself to show his heroism," the Belarusian leader responded. “I was then actually between Putin and some forces in Kiev who had already agreed – as Germans say – to ‘hande hoch’ in order to survive. I had a conversation with Putin in this regard, and Putin told me: ‘You know, this [seizure of Kiev] can be done instantly, but many people will die’.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Ukrainian troops had brought not only tanks, but also multiple rocket launchers to the streets. At the same time, they were hiding behind kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and other social facilities.
"He said then how was it possible to fight militarily with them. He said a point operation would rather be conducted. [Putin said]: ‘We are on the outskirts of Kiev, we cannot attack like them, indiscriminately’. He was worried that he would have to fight there so that nothing would remain in place of that school building,” the Belarusian leader shared details.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the Ukrainian side had acted in the same way in Artemovsk (Bakhmut), and this is confirmed by the PMC Wagner fighters.
"I had a conversation with Putin. He said: ‘Well, how can we attack them in Kiev if they are hiding behind schools and kindergartens?’ I am citing our dialogue almost verbatim. That is, there were concerns. Someone other would have told him: ‘Listen, it is war, so fight if you started it’. He then told the truth: ‘We have not even started yet’,” the President of Belarus noted.
"I will not talk about the reasons. You probably know that the Russian troops – which stayed on the outskirts of Kiev – went away. Zelenskyy did not repel anything there. Putin then withdrew those troops. How did he [Zelenskyy] defended? Did he smash the Russian army there? No. Therefore, he attributes this feat – which did not exist – to himself without any ground. Putin withdrew those troops from Kiev," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “Actually, he was staying in a cellar at that time, Diana. Your Zelenskyy was in the cellar then. He repelled nobody and nothing. Meanwhile, the military saw how it would end."
