Russia is deploying drone infrastructure in Belarus to reduce the time it takes to launch attacks on Ukraine
Russia is preparing a new wave of airstrikes by expanding its network of control stations for long-range drones on Belarusian territory.
This is reported by Forbes. According to preliminary data, the construction of at least four ground stations is planned, which will reduce the distance to Kyiv by more than three times—to approximately 440 km.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the use of Belarusian bases significantly reduces the response time of air defense forces and increases risks to civilian infrastructure. In addition to the direct threat to Ukraine, the proximity of launches to EU borders creates a danger of accidental or intentional violations of the airspace of Poland and Romania. Ukraine has already discussed these challenges with international partners, as Belarus’s further involvement in the war on Russia’s side destabilizes the security situation throughout the region. Currently, the Ukrainian command is adapting its defense system to new attack vectors from the north.
Russia is actively using Belarusian territory as a springboard for military pressure on Ukraine, specifically for deploying missiles and launching strike drones, stated Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy announced the imposition of a new package of sanctions against Belarus’s self-proclaimed leader, Alexander Lukashenko. The head of state noted that in the second half of 2025, the Russian military deployed a system of relay stations on Belarusian territory to control strike drones. This significantly expanded the Russian Federation’s military capabilities to strike northern regions of Ukraine—from the Kyiv region to Volyn.
