Belarus' exiled opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya arrives in Kyiv on first official visit

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv on May 25, marking her first official trip to Ukraine.

The visit follows a devastating Russian aerial attack overnight on May 24 that primarily targeted Kyiv and the surrounding region, killing at least four people and injuring about 100.

"This visit is a symbol of solidarity between (Belarusian) and (Ukrainian) peoples in our common struggle for freedom and dignity," Tsikhanouskaya's advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, said on X.

After arriving by train, Tsikhanouskaya began her visit by paying tribute at the grave of Maria Zaitseva, a Belarusian activist who joined Ukrainian forces and was killed in eastern Ukraine in January 2025.

Later that day, she saw firsthand the aftermath of the Russian strike on Kyiv over the weekend and visited the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the nearby abandoned town of Pripyat, just a few kilometers from the Belarusian border.

In the coming days, Tsikhanouskaya is expected to meet with Ukrainian leaders, volunteers, and representatives of exiled Belarusian organizations.

The discussions are set to focus on cooperation between Ukraine and the Belarusian democratic opposition, regional security, and ways to prevent Belarus' further involvement in Russia's war.

The opposition leader met with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the first day of her visit.

"Ukraine consistently distinguishes between the regime that dragged Belarus into Russian aggression and the Belarusian people," Sybiha said during a joint press conference.

"We are convinced that Belarusians deserve freedom, independence, and the right to determine the future of their own state.

"To this day, around a thousand Belarusians remain in prison for their civic stance, and many have been forced to leave the country due to repression. We see your resistance and your position."

To strengthen cooperation, Ukraine's top diplomat said that an Ambassador-at-Large, Yaroslav Chornohor, has been appointed to manage relations with the Belarusian democratic opposition.

"We understand well that Ukraine today is defending not only its independence," Tsikhanouskaya said beside Sybiha. "I am sure that Ukraine's victory will open the path to freedom for Belarus."

Sybiha confirmed Tsikhanouskaya's visit on May 22 amid surging tensions between Kyiv and the Lukashenko regime — Moscow's close ally.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has increasingly warned that Russia could soon open a new front against northern Ukraine while attempting to draw Belarus deeper into the war.

Lukashenko, whose regime allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for the 2022 Kyiv offensive, denied such plans and proposed a meeting with Zelensky in either Belarus or Ukraine.

Kyiv has dismissed the offer, with Sybiha saying Ukraine seeks dialogue with the Belarusian democratic opposition instead.