Russia using neighboring countries for strikes on Ukraine: Ihnat reveals list

Russia's army is using Belarus and other neighboring countries as flight paths for strike drones during attacks on Ukraine, said Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command, during a national telethon.

"The enemy uses the territory of Moldova, unrecognized Transnistria, Romania, and Belarus, in particular, for its flight paths. This is now an established fact. We have repeatedly reported that Russian drones are bypassing potential engagement zones by avoiding Ukrainian airspace entirely during certain phases of their flight," Ihnat said.

According to him, Belarusian territory may host towers and relay stations used to facilitate the guidance and control of Russian assets. He noted that during strikes on western Ukraine, drones frequently flew "in succession directly along the Belarusian border."

"To increase their resistance to electronic warfare (EW) suppression and ensure a higher success rate, the enemy likely leverages the neighboring state’s infrastructure to allow drones to reach their targets unobstructed," the Air Force representative added.

Ihnat also clarified that he lacks specific intelligence regarding the exact locations of the command and control points situated within Belarus.