Russian mesh relays may be operating in Kyiv, providing a temporary control channel for Shahed drones to adjust strikes. According to a preliminary assessment, there may be between one and three such devices in the capital.
This was stated by the President’s adviser on technology Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov.
He said such relays are difficult to detect. At the same time, without finding and neutralising them, protecting Kyiv with electronic warfare measures will not be effective enough.
In support of his theory, Beskrestnov cited the strike on an SBU building and the attacks on Kyiv’s bridges that he analysed. He said that during the strike on the SBU, there were no other Shahed drones in the sky that could have served as an airborne relay.
Beskrestnov believes that without stable online control of the drone right up to the moment of the attack, it is impossible to hit specific elements of a bridge accurately, including a support or the cables.
He also warned that if such a control channel exists, Russian drones’ targets may include not only bridges but also air defence systems positioned nearby.
At the same time, Beskrestnov stressed that for now this is his technical conclusion, not a confirmed fact.