Satellite images show what Belarus is doing near the border
Air defense systems have been deployed about 34 miles away from the border with Ukraine at the Mozyr oil refinery.
According to the Ukrainian branch of Radio Svoboda, Belarus is not only deploying troops along the border but is also building an air defense system at the strategically important refinery in the city of Mozyr. The system in question is the Russian-made Tor-M2, which specializes in countering drones and other low-flying targets.
The city of Mozyr, in Belarus, is located approximately 34 miles from Ukraine’s northern border. Because of its proximity, the area has been used strategically, allowing rapid access to Ukrainian territory by land or air in a war that will mark its fourth year in February.
A project more than a year in the making
According to the Institute for the Study of War, preparation of the necessary infrastructure took several months, and the system arrived in August of last year. Work to position the anti-aircraft system began in January 2025, based on an analysis of satellite images from Planet Labs.
Officially, the deployment was announced yesterday. The photographs show the shadow of a turreted vehicle, a distinctive feature of the Tor-M2 system, mounted on a chassis manufactured by the Belarusian company MZKT.
The Tor-M2 is an advanced Russian short-range air defense system designed to protect ground forces and critical infrastructure from drones, cruise missiles, guided bombs, and aircraft. It stands out for its ability to fire while on the move, engage up to four or eight targets simultaneously using 16 9M338 missiles, and maintain high effectiveness in electronic warfare conditions. The missiles can reach speeds of up to 3280 feet per second and can intercept targets at distances of up to 10 miles and altitudes of just over 6 miles. The system operates in all weather conditions, day and night, even while in motion.
According to Belarusian data, more than 105 drones crossed Belarusian airspace in 2025 alone. Of these, 82 percent were neither shot down nor intercepted. They likely included both Russian and Ukrainian drones, as well as possibly other reconnaissance drones. Protecting this area appears to be crucial to Russian strategic interests.
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