Russia to Open Control Stations for Long-Range Drones in Belarus, Zelenskiy Says

KYIV, March 23 (Reuters) – Russia ⁠plans ⁠to open four ⁠ground control stations for long-range ​attack drones in Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said ‌on Monday, citing information ‌from Ukraine’s military intelligence service.

Zelenskiy, ⁠who ⁠in recent months has repeatedly warned about Belarus ​becoming more involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine, added in comments on X that ​he had instructed the service’s chief to ⁠inform Kyiv’s ⁠partners about these ⁠plans.

Speaking ​later in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said ​that earlier ⁠in the now four-year-old war, Belarusian assistance had for a time intensified the damage inflicted by Russian attacks until ⁠Ukraine took action against it.

“We now have information ⁠from our intelligence that Russia intends to continue using the territory of Belarus and temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to build ground control stations for long-range drones,” he said.

“There will be responses to this. And they will ⁠be felt.”

Belarus’ foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside of business hours.

(Reporting by Yuliia ​Dysa; Editing by Daniel Flynn, ​Ron Popeski, Rod Nickel)

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.

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