Kyiv knows of four relay systems in Belarus that help Russian drone strikes, Zelensky says

June 20, Pozirk. Kyiv has identified four relay systems in Belarus that facilitate Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said on his Telegram channel on Saturday evening. 

Ukraine has repeatedly signaled that Russia’s efforts to draw Belarus into its war could have extremely dangerous consequences, Zelensky said. “In particular, we have detected that special equipment has been installed for Russia along our border in the Belarusian territory that helps Russians strike us, our territory with drones. Ukraine is aware of four such relay systems in Belarus – in the Homiel and the Brest regions.” 

According to Zelensky, the network enabled strikes on energy and railroad infrastructure as well as “ordinary cities and villages” in the Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn provinces. “Belarus has time to dismantle this equipment,” he added. 

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine knows of “every plant in Belarus that works for Russia” and its war machine. He warned that Belarus’ involvement in the war increases with every company that supplies Russia with weapon components and fuel for the battlefield. 

Zelensky noted that Belarus had increased its gasoline and diesel fuel exports to Russia 13 and three times, respectively, in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period of the previous year. 

All of this helps Russia “adapt to pressure and does not bring peace closer,” Zelensky said. He called on Belarus’ “de facto leadership” to follow up on its “unofficial” messages to Kyiv to prove that Minsk opposes the war.  

At Friday’s joint news conference with Nasry Asfura, president of Honduras, Zelensky gave Łukašenka one week to disable relay equipment for Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. 

Zelensky warned that if Łukašenka fails to take action to “remove or disable” the equipment within one week, “we will do it ourselves.”

Drone control relay systems are elevated signal boosters, mounted on towers, buildings, or larger “mother-drones,” that extend the operational range and video stability of unmanned aircraft. By bypassing geographic obstacles and the Earth’s curvature, they maintain a clear line of sight between a distant pilot and a low-flying drone. However, because these systems continuously broadcast high-power radio signals, their fixed or airborne locations are highly vulnerable to enemy detection and precision strikes.

Politics Security

Politics, Security

Zelensky gives Łukašenka one week to shut down drone control stations

June 19, Pozirk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given Alaksandar Łukašenka one week to disable or shut down drone control stations in Belarus used to support Russian attacks on Ukraine. The politician made this statement at today’s joint press conference …

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