Hidden repeaters may enable online Shahed guidance over Kyiv
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Flash reported the possible presence of enemy Mesh repeaters in Kyiv. (Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Russia may have deployed hidden Mesh-network repeaters inside Kyiv to remotely control Shahed drones and adjust their flight paths during attacks on the Ukrainian capital, presidential technology adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said on Facebook on Oct. 3.
Beskrestnov stressed that this remains a hypothesis and could prove wrong. He estimated that one to three such repeaters could potentially be operating in Kyiv.
The devices could create temporary communications channels allowing Russian operators to control drones online rather than relying solely on preprogrammed routes or satellite navigation, he said.
“Such repeaters are difficult to find, but they have to be found,” Beskrestnov said. “As long as they exist, shielding the city with electronic warfare will not be effective.”
Beskrestnov said one reason for his hypothesis was his analysis of a previous strike on an SBU building. No other Shahed drones were airborne nearby at the time that could have acted as airborne relays, he said.
He also analyzed recent Russian strikes on Kyiv bridges and considered whether Russia could establish long-range Mesh communication channels from Russian territory.
Russian channels are now circulating photographs of air defense systems deployed on Kyiv bridges, Beskrestnov said, noting that concealing a Gepard air defense system positioned on a bridge used by tens of thousands of people every day is practically impossible.
“Why did I mention this? As long as online control of Shaheds exists, not only bridges but also air defense systems will be under attack,” he said.
Beskrestnov cautioned that his theory about repeaters inside Kyiv may ultimately prove incorrect.
Specialists continue examining debris from downed drones and have so far found no other communications equipment that would explain how Russia could maintain online control over the UAVs, he said.
How Mesh control works
Beskrestnov has previously described Mesh networks as one of the technologies Russia uses to establish online control of Shahed-type drones.
In such a network, individual modems can both transmit data and relay signals. Airborne drones can therefore form a dynamic communications chain in which data is automatically redirected through other nodes if one connection is lost.
Ukraine has been investigating ways to disrupt such control channels with electronic warfare.
In July, Beskrestnov said Ukrainian specialists were testing electronic warfare systems designed specifically to suppress Mesh-network control channels used by Russian jet-powered Shaheds.
He has described online control as particularly dangerous because it effectively allows an operator to use a long-range strike drone in a manner resembling a large FPV drone, adjusting its flight during the mission.
Russia repeatedly targets Kyiv bridges
The latest assessment comes after a series of Russian drone strikes on key transport infrastructure in Kyiv.
Russian forces repeatedly struck the Southern Bridge on Oct. 1 and 2, damaging the roadway, a bridge support, a guardrail and protective concrete structures around the metro tracks.
The bridge was subsequently closed to both road and metro traffic.
On Oct. 3, a Russian drone also struck the Northern Bridge. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack damaged the roadway and trolleybus overhead power network.
The attacks come as Ukraine works to improve defenses against a growing number of Russian jet-powered drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sept. 28 that Ukraine was intercepting about 70% of Russian drones overall during large-scale attacks, while the interception rate for jet-powered UAVs stood at 57%.
New Ukrainian interceptor drones are already undergoing combat testing.
On Oct. 2, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was testing five types of high-speed interceptor drones, with one model expected to reach production of about 400 units by the end of October.
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