Ukraine Shuts Down Russian Drone Relay Stations Operating from Belarus

Relay Stations Found in Belarus

According to Главком: Sergey Beskrestnov, an advisor to Ukraine’s defense minister, reported the discovery of four relay stations mounted on towers in Belarus’s Gomel and Brest regions. These installations enabled Russia to pilot drones over Kyiv and western parts of Ukraine. One of the relays was located near the town of Slavutych. Their operation ceased on June 22 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an ultimatum. Despite this shutdown, Russia continues to strike Ukrainian targets using GPS coordinates.

The relays first appeared in the fall of the previous year. Although Ukraine destroyed them in February, Russia managed to restore their functionality. Beskrestnov noted that the shortest control distance from Russian territory is 210 kilometers, whereas from Belarus it is just 140 kilometers. Each relay had a range of up to 200 kilometers for drone control. Crucially, similar relays were also present in occupied areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea.

Drones in Action and the Threat to Ukraine

Every Shahed-type drone is equipped with an LTE modem using a Russian SIM card from the company T2. Beskrestnov highlighted that during one attack on western Ukraine, all Shahed drones flew along the Belarusian border. After the February destruction of the relays, Russia reestablished the ability to control Shaheds from Belarus. The defense minister’s advisor also recorded activity from radio modems aboard drones during an attack on May 14.

“Attacks will continue, but not in real-time control mode. They will be standard Shahed strikes using GPS coordinates. There will be no reconnaissance,” said Sergey Beskrestnov.

He further pointed out the problem of commercial mobile networks being used for military purposes, a fact known to Belarus: “This is the use of commercial mobile networks for military ends. And Belarus is aware of it.”

“It’s important to understand that a mesh network could be built but not used right now-yet it can be activated at any moment. It’s like an airfield for Shaheds that currently has no drones, but we realize it’s a hidden bomb for us,” Beskrestnov added. The situation remains tense, and the drone threat has not disappeared.

The discovery of relay stations in Belarus underscores Russia’s continued efforts to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles for attacks on Ukrainian territory. Even though some infrastructure has been destroyed, the ability to restore operations and leverage commercial networks for military purposes presents major challenges for Ukraine’s defenses. As drone attacks may persist, it is essential to consider not only technological factors but also strategic lessons that could shape Ukraine’s future responses to these threats.

The recent shutdown of drone relay stations in Belarus is a significant development in the ongoing conflict, as it disrupts Russia's ability to conduct real-time drone strikes. For a deeper understanding of this situation and the implications for Ukraine's defense strategies, read more about the closure of Belarusian signal relays guiding drone attacks.