Approximate flight data from ADS-B has been plotted and is visible in the article.

Even with the benefit of the doubt, it looks very shady. You could probably argue that it's the closest airport within the airspace they're currently occupying (which was Belarus airspace at the time) but the whole Belarus narrative stinks.

What particularly stinks is the Ryanair response/reaction. I can only assume that Ryanair is being coy about the whole situation because they want to continue using Belarus airspace, but there might be more to it.

And then there is obstacle clearance.

Over any terrain with appreciable elevation differences, topographic features can easily rule out otherwise eligible airfields because you'll have to cross granite on the glide down.

/Acey

I left that off before but it begged mentioning since it's a question that asks for a real answer/confirmation if starting from jet cruise altitudes. If you are starting at FL410, you could easily head down a box canyon accidentally when the Alps, Pyrenees, Rockies, etc. are nearby.

The flight was travelling due north from Lutsk and had already passed over Lida, approaching the Lithuanian border, before it was diverted. It was significantly closer to Vilnius (its destination) than to Minsk.

How is this relevant considering that according to FlightRadar the closest airport was the destination airport, where they were supposed to land anyway?