Russia improves drone cameras and deploys mesh networks – Air Force spokesman Ihnat
He noted that these technical enhancements enable a single drone to perform multiple roles simultaneously, such as:
"That is why they fly in sequence… Russian drones can be interconnected via a mesh network, enabling data to reach the operator," the spokesperson explained.
Addressing questions regarding relay stations in Belarus and guidance systems for jet-powered Shahed drones, Ihnat mentioned that Russian forces have declared their satellite network ready.
He added that there is currently no verified data on whether Russian forces utilize telecommunications towers for signal relays.
"However, along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, we frequently observe drones traversing long distances sequentially. Nothing can be ruled out, though verification remains subject to intelligence reports," Ihnat noted.
Background
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi previously highlighted that signal relay equipment stationed across two border regions in Belarus helps Russian forces direct strikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
At the time, Zelenskyi noted that the Belarusian leadership had an adequate opportunity to disable the equipment and that, failing to do so, Ukraine would act independently.
Subsequent reports from the Belarusian news outlet Flagshtok noted a temporary halt in Russian strike-drone overflights along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, with attack vectors shifting toward the Chernihiv region via alternative flight paths.
The lull coincided with statements from Alexander Lukashenko expressing a willingness to de-escalate rhetoric and claiming no military threat would originate from Minsk.
However, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko later reported a strike on the Yahodyn checkpoint, noting that Belarus had reactivated relay stations assisting Russian drones in penetrating deeper into Ukrainian territory.
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30 of September 2026
