Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visits Kyiv in a symbol of solidarity
Belarusian opposition leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv on Monday for her first visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, marking a strong gesture of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Her visit comes amid heightened security concerns in the region, as Ukraine strengthens its northern border with Belarus due to fears of potential Russian military activity launched from Belarusian territory.
According to her adviser Dzianis Kuchynski, the trip represents a “symbol of solidarity” in the shared struggle for freedom and democracy. Photographs shared online showed her arrival at Kyiv’s central railway station.
Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced into exile after Belarus’s disputed 2020 presidential election, has continued to lead opposition efforts against President Alexander Lukashenko’s government. The election was widely criticized and followed by mass protests that were violently suppressed.
During her visit, she paid tribute to Maria Zaitseva, a Belarusian activist who participated in the 2020 protests and later joined Ukrainian forces. She was killed in combat in early 2025, becoming a symbol of cross-border resistance against authoritarianism and war.
Tsikhanouskaya stated that the freedoms of Belarus and Ukraine are deeply interconnected, emphasizing shared democratic aspirations between the two nations.
Her visit also takes place amid rising regional tensions, following joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus and warnings from European leaders regarding further escalation in the conflict.
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