Ukrainian Defence Minister’s adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said Russia may still be using relay stations in Belarus from time to time to guide attack drones.
He cited an attack on a petrol station in Malyn in the Kyiv region as an example supporting his assessment. Beskrestnov said a Shahed flew along the border with Belarus, reached Korosten directly above a highway, then turned and followed a railway line to Malyn, where it struck the petrol station.
“Such behaviour is characteristic of manual camera-based drone control. The distance from the attack site to the Russian border is 260 km. That is too far for a direct radio link. There were no other Shaheds, which could have served as relay drones, in the air at the time”, he wrote.
The relevant services will make the final conclusions, Beskrestnov added. He stressed that it was important for Russia to attack western Ukraine with Shaheds under online control and that this could not be done without relay stations in Belarus.
“I do not know whether Lukashenka will be able to resist ‘insistent requests’ regarding relay stations. I also do not rule out that relay stations could be installed without the knowledge of the Belarusian authorities. This can be done quickly and easily. Therefore, they should closely monitor what is happening in their country”, he added.
