President Volodymyr Zelensky gave Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko one week [1] to dismantle drone-relay stations located on Belarusian territory.
The demand highlights the increasing tension between Kyiv and Minsk over the use of Belarusian soil to facilitate Russian military operations. Because these stations guide Russian drone attacks into Ukraine, their continued existence represents a direct threat to Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian safety.
During a press briefing in Ukraine, Zelensky said the stations must be removed because they continue to facilitate Russian drone strikes [1]. The Ukrainian leader said that the window for a peaceful resolution of this specific issue is limited to the seven-day period [1].
This is not the first time Ukraine has targeted such infrastructure. The dossier notes that Ukraine previously destroyed relay stations in February [2]. By issuing a public deadline, Zelensky is shifting the diplomatic pressure onto Lukashenko to either distance Belarus from Russian tactical operations or face further escalations.
Belarus has maintained a close strategic partnership with Russia throughout the conflict. The presence of these relay stations allows Russian forces to extend the reach and accuracy of their unmanned aerial vehicles without deploying personnel deep into Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky said the removal of the stations is necessary to protect Ukrainian lives [1]. The Ukrainian administration has not specified the exact nature of the response if the deadline passes without the dismantling of the equipment.
“Zelensky gave Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko one week to dismantle drone-relay stations”
This ultimatum signals a shift in Ukraine's strategy toward Belarus, moving from passive monitoring to active public demands. By setting a hard deadline, Kyiv is attempting to force Lukashenko to choose between his alliance with Moscow and the risk of Ukrainian kinetic strikes on Belarusian soil, potentially expanding the geographic scope of the conflict.
