Story perspectives

Zelensky to Disable Belarus Relays Used for Russian Drones

6/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will disable Belarusian signal relay stations aiding Russian drones.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Kyiv Belarus does not want to join the war.
Russian officials have asked Belarus to permit more drone launches and placed ground drone stations there.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports of Russian plans to use Belarus for attacks, noting 2,000 troops remain and fuel shipments have risen nearly thirteen-fold.

History

Historical Context

On 5 December 1994 the United States, United Kingdom and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum, pledging to respect Ukraine’s (and Belarus’s, Kazakhstan’s) sovereignty after they surrendered Soviet nuclear weapons. Russia breached those assurances with the 2014 Crimea annexation and the 2022 full-scale invasion, prompting NATO and the UN to reassess collective security in Eastern Europe.

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Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will disable Belarusian signal relay stations aiding Russian drones.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Kyiv Belarus does not want to join the war.
Russian officials have asked Belarus to permit more drone launches and placed ground drone stations there.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports of Russian plans to use Belarus for attacks, noting 2,000 troops remain and fuel shipments have risen nearly thirteen-fold.

1 / 2