The situation in northern Ukraine has undergone significant changes over the last seven days. Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, told RBC-Ukraine that the intensity of flights of 'Shahed' type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along the state border with Belarus has decreased.
Reduced Activity: Facts and Figures
According to the SBGS representative, mass incursions of drones, which previously became a characteristic feature of this section of the border, have been observed less frequently recently. Demchenko clarified that the peak of activity occurred in early and mid-June, when Ukraine was subjected to massive attacks. During this period, the use of the route through the northern border was particularly active.
However, in the current situation, if we talk about the last week, the number of incidents involving border crossings from the Chernihiv region has decreased somewhat. At the same time, the spokesperson emphasized that the enemy has not completely abandoned the use of this strategic direction.
Ultimatum and Technical Verification
The decrease in activity coincided with diplomatic and military actions by Kyiv. Last Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an ultimatum to the Belarusian leadership: within a week, it is necessary to dismantle Russian repeaters, which, according to Kyiv, are used to control drones along the Ukrainian border.
Whether the Minsk side fulfilled this requirement, the border guards found it difficult to answer. Andriy Demchenko explained that the State Border Guard Service lacks technical means to monitor the territory of the neighboring state. Only specialized intelligence structures can check for the presence or absence of equipment.
Reaction to the Ultimatum
Despite the lack of official confirmation from law enforcement agencies, independent sources are recording changes. The Belarusian media outlet 'Flagshok' notes that after Zelenskyy's statement, the frequency of drone flights decreased, and in the last three days, they were not observed at all. Experts from the publication suggest that Alexander Lukashenko's regime may have fulfilled the requirement and turned off the repeaters.
The deadline for the ultimatum expires this Friday. Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that in the event of the Belarusian side's refusal to dismantle the equipment, the Ukrainian army would do it. Kyiv's position was supported by the European Union, reminding of Ukraine's right to self-defense and pointing out the role of the Belarusian leadership in supporting Russian aggression.