Zelenskyy says Ukraine may remove relays aiding Russian drone attacks
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Ukraine’s public demand that Belarus dismantle relay equipment used to help guide Russian drone attacks came only after a lengthy series of private warnings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with TSN aired on the United News telethon June 21.
Ukraine repeatedly sent information through its intelligence services and military officials to Belarusian authorities, including self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko, urging them to halt technical support for the relay equipment, Zelenskyy said.
“The issue of the relay equipment did not arise yesterday. This has been a long process. The victims have been exclusively Ukrainian. Technically, they help coordinate attacks and enable Russian and Iranian drones to strike Ukrainian civilians more precisely,” Zelenskyy said.
Belarus must dismantle the equipment and prove that it has been disabled, he said.
“No technical support for the relays. Shut them down, remove them and show us that they have been removed. Then this matter is over. Since this message has been delivered repeatedly, we have moved to a public signal. That means that if he does not remove them, we will. That’s all. Either they will, or we will,” Zelenskyy said.
Belarus has not issued an official response to Ukraine’s public statement, Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said during a joint news conference with Honduran President Nasry Asfura in Kyiv on June 19 that Lukashenko could dismantle the relay equipment helping guide Russian drone attacks on Ukraine within a week.
“I think a week will be enough for him to do it. Why do I say a week? Because our civilians are killed every day because of this, and children are wounded. If he does not do it, we will,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia continues to try to draw Belarus into the war, while Lukashenko “understands that Ukraine will respond,” Zelenskyy said.
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