Belarusian dissidents plot to topple Lukashenko, timing remains secret

“We've crafted a strategy and are poised to act when the time comes," said Azarov, who now spearheads the dissident group BYPOL. Ukraine's battle against Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a pivotal factor in weakening Lukashenko's grip on power in Belarus, he believes.

"The linchpin to Lukashenko's downfall is Putin's defeat in Ukraine,” stated Azarov.  “A victorious Ukrainian counteroffensive would stretch Putin too thin, leaving him unable to sustain Lukashenko."

The group has been actively undermining Russian efforts to support Kyiv in the ongoing conflict. Their operations have targeted Russian military assets, including aircraft and railway lines, and have involved training Belarusian volunteers fighting in support of Ukrainian forces.

After witnessing the falsifications in Belarus's 2020 presidential elections and the brutal suppression of the protests that followed, Azarov, a former Belarusian intelligence officer, resigned from his position.