Russian UAV Control System Destroyed
Ukrainian intelligence has identified and eliminated communication nodes on tall towers in Belarus that were directing attacks on various Ukrainian regions. According to Serhiy Beskrestnov, an advisor to the Minister of Defense and a radio technology expert, these nodes were part of the control system for Russian strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from Belarusian territory. This operation highlights Ukraine's ongoing efforts to degrade Russia's ability to launch long-range drone strikes from neighboring countries.
Beskrestnov explained that Russian Shahed drones utilize a Mesh network. This network consists of radio modems that turn each drone into a signal repeater and amplifier. The system requires initial entry points that connect the control channel via the internet to Russian operators. Such nodes were discovered on Belarusian territory, specifically on towers 70-90 meters high located near the border with Ukraine.
Detection and Elimination of Communication Nodes
Beskrestnov stated that Ukrainian intelligence located several such objects in Belarus.
"Naturally, it's advantageous to place such points on high towers (70-90 meters) somewhere near our border and use powerful antennas directed at Ukraine. Such high communication points on enemy territory emit radio signals that our radio intelligence can see from our territory," he noted.One of the detected points reached Kyiv with its signal, while another facilitated attacks on western Ukraine, including the Kyiv-Kovel railway line.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed the neutralization of the Mesh network in the north, which has significantly complicated the control of Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported the use of Belarusian infrastructure for guiding drones at the end of last year. The objects in Belarus serviced attacks on various regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv and western oblasts.
The destruction of these Russian drone communication hubs marks a critical step in Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression. It not only hinders drone operations but also reduces the threat to civilian objects and infrastructure within Ukraine. Revealing the technical workings of the adversary also allows Ukrainian military forces to refine their intelligence and countermeasures against similar threats in the future.