Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Russia intends to deploy four drone control stations in Belarus, prompting a pledge of response.
Russia Plans Drone Bases in Belarus
Russia plans to deploy four ground control stations for long-range strike drones on Belarusian territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday.
“We have clear information that Russia is planning further deployment of ground control stations for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles both on the territory of Ukraine occupied by Russia, and – four stations – on the territory of Belarus. We will respond accordingly,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
Intelligence Sharing and Negotiations
Zelenskyy instructed the head of foreign intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, to share this data with partner countries and the media, to the extent Ukraine can declassify it.
The Ukrainian President expressed belief that Russian military command consistently exaggerates its forces’ achievements on the front lines, then uses this inflated data in negotiations involving the United States.
Sanctions Against Lukashenko
In February, Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting a decision by the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Previous Drone Deployment and Component Supply
Zelenskyy recalled that in the second half of 2025, Russia deployed a relay system for controlling strike drones on Belarusian territory, increasing the Russian army’s capabilities to attack northern Ukrainian regions, from Kyiv to Volyn.
According to Zelenskyy, Lukashenko not only provided Belarus’s territory for the Orieshnik medium-range missile system but also Belarusian enterprises supplied Russia with key components for this weapon.