Belarus is reportedly reactivating Shahed-linked command infrastructure to support Russian drone operations.
Kyiv’s Defense Technology Advisor Serhii Beskrestnov said his troops detected radio modems aboard Russian systems operating near Belarus, with signals picked up during the large-scale coordinated attack last May 13 that saw around 1,500 drones targeting Ukraine’s capital.
With the drones initially detected around 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Russian territory, Beskrestnov said direct control from Moscow was not feasible.
He also ruled out relay-based radio communication, citing the wide dispersal of the observed systems.
The command centers were reportedly located deeper inside Belarusian territory, suggesting Russia may be adjusting its tactics to reduce exposure to short-range strike and detection systems.
“So far, these are isolated cases. Ukraine’s Defense Forces are keeping this issue under control,” Beskrestnov noted on social media. “We never take any action without being 100 percent certain.”
Russian Shahed Attacks
The May 13 attack preceded a separate operation involving a dual-Shahed setup nearly a week later.
Russian forces reportedly used a decoy drone to draw Ukrainian units out of position before launching a secondary strike against exposed targets.
Reports indicate the use of a Gerbera system alongside a Geran-2 drone, both widely assessed as Russian adaptations of Iran’s Shahed loitering munition.
Beskrestnov urged air defense personnel to remain adaptive following the incident, pointing to evolving mission tactics.
“I ask everyone involved in air defense not to wait for orders from the command, but to analyze the situation and think,” the advisor said.
