Russia drags Belarus further into Ukraine invasion as it runs out of missiles and men

RUSSIA is trying to drag Belarus further into its Ukraine invasion as it runs out of missiles and men.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky fears tyrant Vladimir Putin is planning a “provocation” to give his ally a reason to join in.

Train-loads of Russian troops are thought to have entered Belarus after its President Aleksander Lukashenko ordered joint “combat readiness” drills.

Putin’s soldiers used Belarus — which sits north of Ukraine — to mount a botched assault on Kyiv in February. Its air forces also uses Belarus to launch missile attacks.

Mr Zelensky told a virtual meeting of G7 leaders yesterday: “Russia is trying to directly draw Belarus into this war, playing a provocation that we are allegedly preparing an attack on this country.”

The alert came as a wave of Russian revenge strikes appeared to peter out.

Putin unleashed a barrage of 100 missiles and drone attacks after his bridge to Crimea was blown up on Saturday.

But yesterday’s onslaught was smaller, with at least a dozen jerry-rigged anti-aircraft missiles repurposed for ground attack.

Western intelligence sources claimed Russia was struggling to restock its missiles due to sanctions on hi-tech parts.

UK spy chief Sir Jeremy Fleming said: “We know Russia is running low on its conventional munitions — and its commanders know that.”

PM Liz Truss joined G7 allies in condemning the Russian strikes in the “strongest possible terms”.

Putin has threatened to unleash nukes but western intelligence sources said there were no signs yet they were being readied.

Sir Jeremy added: “I would like to think that, with our allies, we would have a good chance of spotting it.”