Key facts
- Russia is using Belarusian LTE networks and repeater stations to provide stable signals for Shahed-type drones attacking Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.
- Drones used in a Sept. 12 mass attack on western Ukraine stayed close to the Belarusian border, suggesting use of Belarusian commercial LTE networks.
- Air strikes on Rivne, Volyn, and Lviv oblasts were carried out from Belarus, with signals fed through repeaters on Belarusian territory.
- President Zelensky had previously demanded Belarus remove relay stations, and Alexander Lukashenko had agreed to do so.
Russia is reportedly leveraging Belarusian telecommunications infrastructure to enhance the effectiveness of its drone attacks on Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials speaking on September 14, 2026. Presidential Advisor Serhii "Flash" Beskretnov suggested that the flight paths of Shahed-type drones during a large-scale attack on September 12 indicated the use of Belarusian commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. He noted that the drones stayed close to the border with Belarus, implying a reliance on domestic mobile networks for connectivity during these cross-border operations.