{
  "id": 7830604,
  "title": "Kyiv says Belarus reactivated relays that helped Russian drones strike a gas station and passenger train near Ukraine’s border with Poland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/kyiv-says-belarus-reactivated-relays-that-helped-russian-drones",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T16:29:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/16/kyiv-says-belarus-reactivated-relays-that-helped-russian-drones-strike-a-gas-station-and-passenger-train-near-ukraine-s-border-with-poland"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine claims Belarus has restarted relays that aid Russian drones in striking targets near its border with Poland. According to Andriy Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, Belarus is actively aiding Russia by activating relays that boost the signal for Russian 'Shahed' and 'Gerbera' drones. These relays, located in Belarus, are crucial for maintaining video links between drones and operators, allowing communication over vast distances. Ukraine believes these relays are situated in Belarus, enabling Russian drones to approach the border and receive a signal before attacking targets within Ukraine. The relays were instrumental in an attack on the Yahodyn border crossing with Poland and a passenger train on the Kyiv–Warsaw rail line on September 13. In June, President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko remove these relays, threatening further action if he didn't comply.",
  "summary": "Belarus has once again activated relays near its border that help guide Russian drones to their targets, according to Andriy Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian court releases truck drivers linked to drone launches after evidence falls short",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/russian-court-releases-truck-drivers-linked-to-drone-launches-after",
        "published": "2026-09-16T14:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Insider",
        "title": "Court frees drivers whose trucks were used in Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attacks on Russian airfields",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/court-frees-drivers-whose-trucks-were-used-in-ukraines-operation",
        "published": "2026-09-16T15:53:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Moscow court frees four truck drivers unwittingly used by Ukraine in 2025 ‘Operation Spiderweb’ drone attack on Russian military airfields",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/moscow-court-frees-four-truck-drivers-unwittingly-used-by-ukraine-in",
        "published": "2026-09-16T16:52:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Russian drones hit bus, train in Ukraine, killing 5: officials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/russian-drones-hit-bus-train-in-ukraine-killing-5-officials",
        "published": "2026-09-16T17:17:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukraine war latest: Russian general eliminated in occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, military says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ukraine-war-latest-russian-general-eliminated-in-occupied-part-of",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:47:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}