Russia's drone warfare takes hit after Belarus disables key relays, Ukraine says
Photo: Yurii Ihnat (Getty Images)
The shutdown of relay stations in Belarus has weakened Russia's ability to control kamikaze drones in real time, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Directorate of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russian drones have not disappeared and continue to fly, but it is now much more difficult for Russians to carry out precision strikes. Repeaters located along the Ukrainian border on the Belarusian side allowed signals to be transmitted to the operator over long distances.
Now, Russia's ability to coordinate its actions in these regions in real time is significantly limited.
Ihnat notes that previously, thanks to real-time information from the repeaters, the Russians were able to track movements and adjust strike coordinates directly during an attack.
"With a real-time video feed, the enemy can launch drone strikes even against moving targets or change the coordinates of their attacks," he emphasizes.
Thanks to a stable video signal, Russians used Shahed drones to attack Ukrainian trains and mobile fire groups.
On June 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, demanding that he dismantle the relay stations that Russia uses to guide Shahed drones.
The head of state stated that this demand must be met within a week. He also warned that if Belarus fails to do so, Ukraine would destroy these repeaters on its own.
Shortly thereafter, Belarusian media reported that for three days, the Shaheds had not been moving along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. And on June 24, Zelenskyy announced that the repeaters had ceased to function.
