Ukraine warns of Russian drones using relay networks for long-range attacks

The operational range of these guided Shahed-type drones now includes Kyiv from the north, Poltava from the west, as well as Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and Mykolaiv from the south, he said.

The mesh network technology allows multiple drones to relay signals between each other via radio modems, maintaining communication over long distances, Beskrestnov said.

The system relies on long-range antennas installed on elevated points and towers in Russian-controlled territory, he said. Communication with drones can reach distances of up to 220 kilometers, provided the UAV maintains high altitude to overcome the curvature of the Earth.

“In the case when I was targeted, two jet-powered Shahed drones were circling near my house, while two more were approaching from several kilometers away,” he said. “Those incoming drones were flying at an altitude of about 2,200 meters. A simple calculation shows that at that height, communication could only have been maintained at a distance of about 200 kilometers. Excluding Belarus, there is only one clear direction from which they were controlled.”

The two high-altitude drones relayed signals to the lower-flying UAVs that descended to strike the target, he said.

Signal relay chains can be extended, but each additional relay reduces speed and increases latency, limiting the system to two or three relay points for optimal performance, Beskrestnov said.

A specialized group of around 40 operators and engineers based in Russia’s Alabuga is responsible for deploying this technology, he said, adding that they operate with established tactics and significant experience.

Developing effective countermeasures against this system is one of his key tasks, though current results remain insufficient, Beskrestnov said.

Electronic warfare systems that disrupt satellite navigation are ineffective when drones are manually controlled using onboard navigation instruments, he added.

Jet-powered Shahed drones attacked Beskrestnov’s home overnight on April 20, leaving him injured, he said, noting he had been “mentally prepared” for such an event.

The drone that struck his house was controlled online from Russian territory and was part of a targeted attempt to kill him, he said.