Ukraine Accuses Belarus of Hosting Signal Relay Stations for Drone Attacks

Questions are intensifying regarding the role of signal relay stations that Kyiv accuses Minsk of using as bases on Belarusian soil to direct drones toward targets inside Ukraine. This development led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to issue a final warning, including a threat of action if these facilities are not removed or disabled, according to Radio Free Europe.

Kyiv describes what it calls a "network of signal relay stations" inside Belarus as a growing point of tension between the two sides. Ukrainian authorities claim these stations, which resemble television or cellular communication towers, are secretly employed to support the guidance of Russian drone attacks within Ukrainian territory.

The issue centers on the Iranian-designed Russian drones known as "Shahed," which are reportedly modified to alter their targets mid-flight. This ability makes their flight paths harder to track and increases their impact, according to the Ukrainian narrative.

Anatoliy Khrapchynskiy, a Ukrainian expert in military aviation and drones and deputy head of the company "Pirana Tech" specializing in counter-drone systems, stated that these relay stations provide "high-quality and reliable communication for drones up to a distance of 150 kilometers."

Khrapchynskiy explained that the relay stations became necessary due to advancements in Russian drones. Early models of the Shahed were programmed with fixed coordinates, whereas newer versions can be partially guided by operators and can change missions mid-flight based on updated intelligence, requiring continuous direct communication with the drone.

In February, Serhiy Paskrystanov, an advisor at Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, wrote on social media that the new drones communicate among themselves and connect to ground stations inside Belarus. He noted the discovery of several such points used to direct attacks on various areas within Ukraine, including Kyiv and western regions.

Kyiv reports that these stations are often installed on communication, television broadcast, or mobile phone towers, making them difficult to distinguish from civilian infrastructure. Their location inside Belarus is seen as providing Russia with an operational advantage, as they lie outside Ukraine's direct targeting range.

Ukraine has proposed electronic jamming as an alternative, which could disrupt cellular services within parts of Belarus.

These developments followed a warning from President Zelenskiy during a June 19 press conference, where he stated that Russia uses "relay stations" inside Belarus to direct attacks. He demanded Belarusian authorities stop or dismantle these stations within a week, warning Kyiv would act if they did not comply.

On June 24, Ukrainian media reported that Belarus had shut down these stations two days earlier, though it was unclear if they had been fully dismantled. Minsk has not officially commented on the presence of these stations or the Ukrainian accusations.

The situation reflects a delicate balance that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko seeks to maintain between avoiding direct involvement in the war and not antagonizing Moscow. He previously stated he discussed with representatives of Zelenskiy the need to keep Belarus out of the conflict.

On June 25, Lukashenko told the Russian ambassador in Minsk that he warned Ukraine against dragging Belarus into the war. Belarusian official media later reported that Lukashenko traveled to Russia to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin about bilateral relations and regional and international issues.

Ukrainian experts say these stations are part of broader advances in Russian drone technology. Modern Shahed models can adjust their flight paths and receive updates from operators, making attacks more dynamic and complex.

Ukrainian reports also claim some drones can communicate with each other and link operations to ground stations inside Belarus, with identified points believed to have supported attacks on multiple locations within Ukraine.

The Ukrainian account adds that these stations are deployed in ways that allow them to be protected within Belarusian territory, reducing the chances of military targeting. Kyiv has not ruled out disabling them through jamming techniques, despite potential impacts on Belarusian communication networks.

Separately, media reports and field investigations indicate additional Russian military activities in Belarus, including the establishment of air defense and electronic warfare sites, as well as facilities believed to be associated with advanced missile systems.

Reports also mention the creation of drone launch sites near the border, facilitating attacks on Ukraine through Belarusian airspace. Recently, Zelenskiy accused Minsk of constructing new military infrastructure near the border, including roads, ammunition depots, and fuel storage, describing these projects as having purely military objectives.