New drone threat from Belarus? Ukraine says reports are distorted
Photo: media report Russia plans to set up drone launch bases in Belarus (Getty Images)
Media reports say Russia plans to set up bases in Belarus to launch long-range drones, which would increase the threat to Ukraine. At the same time, Defense Ministry adviser Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov said the information had been distorted.
Forbes, referring to remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrote that deploying such bases would allow Russia to carry out more frequent and more dangerous attacks. The distance from the potential locations to Kyiv is only 440 km, reducing the response time for Ukrainian air defenses.
Four drone launch bases
Forbes also reported plans to create at least four ground-based drone control points in Belarus. It cited Zelenskyy as saying Russia intends to continue using Belarusian territory to host infrastructure for controlling long-range drones.
According to the media reports, Russia may also deploy modern ballistic missiles in Belarus.
Distortion of information in the media
"I have no information about the construction of airfields for launching Shahed drones from Belarus. I am shocked by how the information is being twisted. Such distortions, unfortunately, put psychological pressure on our people, who are going through difficult times," Beskrestnov said.
He explained that on February 23, Zelenskyy said there had been four long-range Shahed control points in Belarus, but Ukraine destroyed those antennas. At the same time, there is information that Russia may attempt to do it again.
Beskrestnov added that the Forbes article’s author misinterpreted the Ukrainian President’s words, referring to remote drone control antennas as long-range bases.
Background
As previously reported, Ukrainian hackers covertly monitored Russian drone operators for more than six months and gathered evidence of Belarusian territory being used for attacks against Ukraine.
Later, on February 23, Zelenskyy hinted at operations to destroy towers used to guide Shahed drones in Belarus. According to him, Ukraine did everything "so that three or four of them already no longer exist."
