Russian leader Vladimir Putin is intensifying pressure on Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko to deepen Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to the latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). According to ISW, the Kremlin is pushing Lukashenko to allow Russian forces to make greater use of Belarusian territory, including launching drones at Ukraine from Belarus and potentially expanding the frontline westward to force Kyiv to divert troops from active combat zones to the Belarusian border.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The report cited The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which said Russian and European officials believe Moscow is pressuring Lukashenko with threats of reduced financial support if he refuses to cooperate. A former Russian intelligence officer cited by the newspaper said the Kremlin wants Belarus to play a more active military role in order to stretch Ukrainian defenses. Despite growing pressure, ISW assessed that Lukashenko is still attempting to avoid full military involvement while preserving Moscow’s support. This assessment was reinforced by developments along the Belarus-Ukraine border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian-installed signal repeaters in Belarus, used to guide long-range Russian drones deeper into western Ukraine, stopped operating on June 22 after Kyiv warned Belarus to dismantle them by June 26 or face Ukrainian strikes.