Lukashenko warns Kiev against attacking Russian cities

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has warned Ukrainian authorities against impending attacks on Russian towns, according to the BelTA news. 

In a meeting with employees of the Belshina tire plant in Bobruisk Friday, BelTA reported the President as saying that Ukraine was asking for long-range weapons to hit Russian cities such as "Kursk, Rostov, Orel, Belgorod, and neighboring cities. But I once said in public that under no circumstances must it be done."

Read more: Russia vows immediate response if Kiev attacks with long-range systems

Lukashenko revealed that if that became a possibility, Russia would utilize brand new weapons in Kiev "against those who make these decisions. That’s why they are still a little bit apprehensive. But it’s not up to them, it all depends on how Americans will be prodding them into this war."

Commenting on Biden's pledge to provide Ukraine with $1.5 billion monthly, Lukashenko questioned "For what? For war. So it is just the beginning. They, the powerful of this world, have loads of work to do - to re-divide the world. Americans feel they are losing, but they do not want to lose, since it is their wealth. They want to be on top and to rule the whole world."

In early June, the Pentagon decided to provide High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Ukraine due to the nature of the conflict changing to an "artillery duel".

A senior administration official told reporters that the US would send M142 HIMARS, which have a range of approximately 77 km. He added that the missiles are part of a weapons package for Ukraine valued at $700 million.

As Washington insisted, Kiev assured that the US rocket systems would not be used against Russian territory targets.

Earlier, the Pentagon released its report on US military aid to Ukraine, whereby it confirmed that the US has committed approximately $6.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Biden took office.

According to the report, the United States security assistance committed to Ukraine includes:

Over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
Over 6,500 Javelin anti-armor systems;
Over 20,000 other anti-armor systems;
Over 700 Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
126 155mm Howitzers and 260,000 155mm artillery rounds;
108 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
19 Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment;
High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition;
20 Mi-17 helicopters;
Hundreds of Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles;
200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
Over 7,000 small arms;
Over 50,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition;
75,000 sets of body armor and helmets;
121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
Laser-guided rocket systems;
Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels;
22 counter-artillery radars; 
Four counter-mortar radars;
Four air surveillance radars;
Two harpoon coastal defense systems;
M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
C-4 explosives and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing;
Tactical secure communications systems;
Thousands of night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders;
Commercial satellite imagery services;
Explosive ordnance disposal protective gear;
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment;
Medical supplies to include first aid kits;
Electronic jamming equipment;
Field equipment and spare parts;
Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment."