Belarus Relay Support Alleged
Ukraine States Belarus Relay Stations Supported Recent Russian Drone Strikes
Anonymous
Key Points
1
In June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka one week to shut down the relays, warning that Ukraine would destroy them if they remained active. Zelenskyy later said they had been switched off, but Ukraine’s army chief reported on June 30 that one relay had been reactivated.
2
Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said in mid-July that Russia might still use the Belarus-based relays intermittently, while intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko later claimed that the relays had resumed operating.
3
The repeaters were described as helping Russian drones maintain communications during flight, meaning Belarusian infrastructure could support strikes even without a new concentration of Russian troops near the border.
4
Ukraine’s border service characterized the alleged relay activity as part of a broader pattern in which Belarus has functioned as a route for Russian military operations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Ukraine claims that relay stations on Belarusian soil helped guide recent Russian drone attacks on western regions including Rivne, Volyn, and Lviv, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard Service. Spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said the alleged use of Belarusian infrastructure shows Minsk continues supporting Russia, though Ukrainian border guards found no new Russian military buildup near the Belarusian border.
The claims have not been independently verified, and Belarus has not confirmed using its territory to relay strike signals. Ukrainian officials previously said President Zelenskyy warned Belarus to shut down the relays in June, and later reported they had been switched off — but intelligence suggested at least some resumed operating.
Zelenskyy's June Warning and the Relay Shutdown
In June, President Zelenskyy gave Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka one week to shut down the relays. He warned that Ukraine would destroy them if they remained active. Zelenskyy later announced the relays had been switched off, but Ukraine's army chief reported on June 30 that one relay had been reactivated.
Intelligence Claims of Resumed Relay Operations
By mid-July, Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser Serhii 'Flash' Beskrestnov said Russia might still use Belarus-based relays intermittently. Intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko later claimed that the relays had resumed operating. The repeaters help Russian drones maintain communications during flight, allowing Belarusian infrastructure to support strikes without new Russian troop concentrations near the border.
A Long Pattern of Belarusian Military Support
Ukraine's border service characterized the alleged relay activity as part of a broader pattern. Belarus has functioned as a route for Russian military operations since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The relays represent infrastructure that extends Russian strike capability without requiring troops to be stationed on Belarusian soil.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
53
Articles
187
Reach
240
A
AnonymousAuthor
