Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition, visited Kyiv on May 25, marking her first trip to Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion. During her visit, she paid tribute at the grave of Maria Zaytsava, a Belarusian who fought for Ukraine and died in 2025. Tsikhanouskaya's visit comes amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Belarus, particularly following a significant Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv. Ukraine has heightened security measures along its northern border with Belarus, concerned about potential threats from Belarusian territory, especially after a recent nuclear training exercise conducted by Belarus and Russia. In her remarks, Tsikhanouskaya expressed that the outcome of the war in Ukraine is crucial for Belarus's future, asserting that a Ukrainian victory could pave the way for liberation from dictatorship in Belarus. Despite Belarus's strategic support for Russia, President Aleksandr Lukashenko has refrained from deploying Belarusian troops to the conflict, attempting instead to position himself as a mediator. The visit highlights the complex dynamics and growing concerns in the region as the war continues.