Ukraine has disabled a mesh network in Belarus that Russia used to coordinate “Shahed” attack drones along the northern axis, a move officials say strengthens defenses around Kyiv and the country’s central regions and cuts key Russian communications channels.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the operation on February 27 at a meeting with reporters.
“The mesh network used by ‘Shaheds’ in the north has been eliminated, which has positively affected the defense of Kyiv and central Ukraine,” he said. Fedorov did not disclose technical details of the operation.
Advisor to the defense minister Serhii Beskrestnov, known as “Flash,” offered more specifics.
According to Beskrestnov, the mesh network consisted of radio modems that receive and transmit signals while also acting as relays and signal amplifiers for Russian “Shaheds” and other UAVs. “In this setup, all ‘Shaheds’ in the air are linked to each other by radio. As a result, the connection doesn’t drop even if several drones are shot down—it simply routes through other ‘Shaheds,’” he explained.
He said Russia placed the network’s anchor points in Belarusian border areas—powerful antennas mounted at height and aimed toward Ukraine—which Ukrainian forces were able to locate with precision. “No one was surprised that such nodes operated from Russia and occupied territories. But their operation from Belarus came as a surprise. Several such points were identified in Belarus, and they serviced ‘Shaheds’ in different parts of our country,” Beskrestnov said. He added that the network enabled Russia to actively use strike and reconnaissance UAVs over Kyiv and in western Ukraine. “Of course, we did not stand by and watch,” he said.
Fedorov also told reporters that Ukraine moved quickly to curb Russian use of Starlink. “We responded rapidly to the problem… We reached an agreement with Musk and SpaceX to disable Russian terminals. This has been important both for protecting civilians and for strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces,” he said. According to the minister, the number of enemy streams dropped elevenfold.
On December 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky said equipment had been installed in Belarus near the Ukrainian border to guide “Shaheds.” Intelligence indicated such devices were mounted in settlements close to the frontier, including on residential buildings. “In fact, antennas and other equipment have been placed on the roofs of ordinary five‑story buildings to help guide ‘Shaheds’ to targets in our western regions. This is an absolute disregard for human life, and it’s important that Minsk stop playing with this,” Zelensky said. He announced sanctions directly targeting Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
