Zelenskyy: Russian Drone Relay Stations in Belarus Stop Operating

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on June 22 that Belarusian relay stations used by Russia to guide “Shahed” drones have ceased operations. This development follows a June 19 ultimatum from Zelenskyy demanding that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko remove Russian military equipment from Belarusian territory to avoid Ukrainian “counter-measures.”

Why did the Belarusian relay stations stop operating?

The cessation of these stations’ activities follows a direct warning from Kyiv. According to President Zelenskyy, these stations were critical for the Russian military to accurately guide Shahed drones toward targets inside Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that while he is unsure if the equipment has been fully dismantled, the relay stations are currently non-functional.

The move comes after Zelenskyy gave Lukashenko a one-week deadline starting June 19 to clear the equipment. Zelenskyy noted that these stations were located in two Belarusian regions bordering Ukraine. He warned that failure to comply would lead to response actions from Kyiv.

What happens if Belarus continues to host Russian military assets?

The tension between Kyiv and Minsk centers on the definition of “neutrality” and “sovereignty.” Zelenskyy has argued that Belarusian enterprises and infrastructure facilitating Russian aggression help Moscow adapt to international pressure and hinder peace efforts. He explicitly warned that Ukraine would take “counter-measures” if Russian assets remain on Belarusian soil.

Russia has framed this differently. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin and Lukashenko would discuss Zelenskyy’s comments in the “foreseeable future.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Zelenskyy of attempting to “impose a regime” on a sovereign state and trying to drag Belarus into the conflict.

Comparing the Narratives

The conflict over the relay stations reveals a sharp contrast in how the actors frame the situation:

• Ukraine: Views the relay stations as active tools of war that make Belarus a co-belligerent.
• Russia: Views Ukrainian warnings as a violation of Belarusian sovereignty.
• Belarus: Officially maintains it has no intention of entering the war directly, despite hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

How does this affect the Russia-Belarus military alliance?

The situation puts Alexander Lukashenko in a precarious position. While Belarus provided the territory for the initial Russian invasion in February 2022, Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that it is “absolutely unacceptable” for the war to spread into Belarus. This suggests a desire to maintain the alliance with Putin without risking direct military engagement or territorial strikes.

However, the presence of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus complicates this stance. According to official reports, these weapons serve as a deterrent, but they also tie Minsk closer to Moscow’s strategic decisions, regardless of Lukashenko’s public rhetoric about avoiding a direct role in the fighting.

What are the risks of further escalation?

The primary risk is the expansion of the conflict’s geography. If Ukraine carries out “counter-measures” against targets inside Belarus, it could force Minsk to move from a supportive role to an active combat role. This would fundamentally change the dynamics of the war, potentially triggering a broader regional confrontation.

Current data shows that Belarus has not yet deployed its own troops into Ukraine. The stability of the border depends on whether the Russian military can operate from Belarusian territory without triggering a direct Ukrainian response that Lukashenko finds “unacceptable.”

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