The shutdown of Belarusian repeaters used by Russia to control drones has become a turning point in air attack tactics. According to Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, an advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, strikes by "Shahed" kamikaze drones on Kyiv and western regions of the country will continue, but their nature will undergo fundamental changes.
Transition to "blind" control
The key consequence of dismantling the repeaters is the loss of the ability to control drones in real-time. Without radio channel support, Russian operators can no longer adjust flight paths or issue commands on the fly. Attacks will now be carried out exclusively based on pre-programmed GPS coordinates.
This significantly reduces the flexibility and accuracy of strikes, turning complex operations into predictable flights along navigation points that Ukrainian air defense systems can track and intercept more easily.
Loss of reconnaissance potential
For the Russian side, the loss of repeaters means not only a failure in control but also the collapse of the reconnaissance function. Previously, using these networks, the occupiers conducted active reconnaissance, scanning the territory in search of critical infrastructure objects and Ukrainian air defense positions.
Beskrestnov emphasizes that this possibility has now disappeared. Russia will lose the ability to collect data on the location of defenders in real-time, making the planning of attacks significantly more difficult and less effective.
The end of attacks on moving targets
Another important change will be the cessation of online attacks on moving targets. To hit train locomotives or maneuvering air defense assets, a stable mesh network and a control radio channel are required to allow the drone to be redirected in flight. Without Belarusian repeaters, such tactics become impossible.
Loss of "corridors" for breakthrough
Separately, the Defense Ministry advisor noted that Russia has lost the ability to search for corridors between Ukrainian interceptors. Previously, cameras were installed on drones pointing upwards to record the absence of air defense missiles and signal this to operators. This allowed for plotting safe routes for massive waves of drones. Now this mechanism has also ceased to work.
Course of events: from ultimatum to result
The situation surrounding the repeaters developed rapidly. A week ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Minsk, giving Alexander Lukashenko seven days to voluntarily dismantle four repeaters in the Gomel and Brest regions. In case of refusal, Kyiv threatened to carry out this operation independently.
The threat worked. Just a few days later, Belarusian media recorded that "Shaheds" had not been flying along the border for three days. On June 24, Zelenskyy officially confirmed that the repeaters had ceased operation, marking a new stage in the confrontation on the air front.