Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that Russia is using equipment placed within civilian areas in Belarus to bypass Ukrainian defenses and guide drone strikes, a tactic he claims demonstrates a disregard for civilian life. According to Ukrainian intelligence, antennas and other equipment used to direct Iranian-made Shahed drones are installed on the roofs of ordinary apartment buildings in Belarusian settlements near the border. Military experts supporting this assessment note that while the drones enter Ukrainian airspace from Russia, they are guided from Belarusian territory, with recent attacks focusing on disrupting the critical Kyiv-Kovel railway line to Poland.
The reported use of Belarusian territory and civilian infrastructure for military purposes represents a tactical evolution in Russia's sustained campaign of aerial bombardment. This campaign includes large-scale combined strikes using hundreds of drones and missiles, which have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages. Ukrainian officials state that these attacks aim to overwhelm and degrade Ukraine's air defense network.
In response, Ukraine has prioritized the mass production of interceptor drones as a cost-effective countermeasure. The country's defense industry is now delivering nearly 950 such drones daily, with contracts across more than ten manufacturers. To streamline frontline delivery, these drones are available through a digital procurement system that allows military units to order equipment directly. This shift toward decentralized, affordable air defense is seen as essential to preserving more expensive missile systems for higher-value threats and has drawn significant interest from NATO allies seeking similar capabilities.
Analyses of the conflict note that Russia has adapted its drone warfare tactics significantly since 2022, learning from early setbacks and now focusing on mass production and specialized units to erode Ukraine's initial advantage. This includes the effective use of fiber-optic guided drones that are immune to jamming. While Ukraine maintains a highly innovative and decentralized drone ecosystem, observers note that Russia's centralized approach, greater resources, and relentless experimentation are currently shifting the dynamics of the drone war.