# Ukraine says Belarus relay stations help guide Russian drones toward western regions

*Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-29T16:07:38.300Z (2h ago)
**Category**: conflict | **Region**: Eastern Europe
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/19175.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: A spokesman for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service says retransmitters on Belarusian territory are periodically activated to amplify control signals for Russian attack drones, extending strike reach into western Ukraine and turning Belarusian infrastructure into a key part of the drone battlefield.

Belarus is again being drawn into the debate over how far it is helping Russia wage war on Ukraine. Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said retransmitters on Belarusian territory are periodically switched on to reinforce signals guiding Russian drones.

According to Demchenko, those boosted links are used not only against targets in Ukraine’s north and east but also to hit regions in the west of the country. If that picture is accurate, the equipment is allowing Russian unmanned aircraft to fly farther and maintain control at distances that would otherwise be harder to manage.

Attack drones rely on stable command links for navigation and targeting, especially when operating beyond visual range or over terrain that blocks direct signals. Relay stations that pick up and resend those signals can extend effective range and make it harder for Ukrainian electronic‑warfare units to sever communication between drone and operator.

For residents of western Ukraine, Demchenko’s warning suggests a shift. Areas that once felt relatively insulated by distance from Russian launch points may face more frequent alarms as loitering munitions or one‑way attack drones arrive on flight paths sustained through Belarus. Air‑defence planners have to factor in those trajectories when deciding where to site systems and jammers.

Belarus has previously allowed Russia to use its territory for troop movements and attacks, especially early in the invasion, and continues to host Russian forces. The use of retransmitters, if confirmed, would show that support extending into the technical backbone of specific air operations, even if Belarusian personnel are not directly launching drones.

The allegation poses awkward choices for Kyiv and its partners. Physically attacking relay infrastructure inside Belarus would risk widening the war, so Ukraine is more likely to focus on adapting its electronic warfare and air‑defence posture and on seeking diplomatic or sanctions pressure on Belarusian actors linked to such systems.

Developments to watch include any independent imagery or monitoring that tracks new relay nodes near the Belarus‑Ukraine border, changes in the range or direction of Russian drone attacks, and whether Ukrainian or Western officials move to single out Belarusian communications or technology entities for penalties.