Ukrainian hackers found out how Russian drone operators use Belarus

Screen of Russian drone operators showing typical routes plotted from Russian territory along the internal part of the Belarusian border for further attacks against Ukraine

The sanctions imposed by Zelenskyy were the result of a prolonged cyber operation conducted by the Ukrainian analytical cyber center Fenix with the support of volunteers from the international community InformNapalm.

Павялічыць

Screen displaying the routing of movement. On the right, in the chat, one can notice the operators' correspondence

Hackers breached the accounts of dozens of Russian military personnel and gained access to the monitoring systems used by drone operators. For more than six months, they secretly observed the enemy's actions and transmitted information to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which helped better counteract attacks and collect intelligence on flight routes.

During the analysis of intercepted messages, it was revealed that Russia used Belarusian civilian infrastructure, including mobile communication towers, for plotting drone routes. This ensured stable communication and allowed attacks on targets in northern and western Ukraine. Sometimes drones even flew into the territory of NATO countries, and this, according to analysts, was not an accident but part of testing new tactics.

Павялічыць

Screen displaying the desktop and software of Russian drone operators, in which an image from the drone's camera is transmitted. On the right, in the chat, there is a message from an operator with the nickname user5214: «Aircraft YY12057 start normal at 11:08 direction settlement Chernihiv». Date: 25.09.2025

Ukrainian specialists could not control the drones, but they had the ability to see the operators' actions and transmit information in a timely manner. During the operation, strikes were carried out on Russian command posts and drone launch sites, and individual enemy plans were disrupted.

Павялічыць

Russian decoy drones «Gerbera» with characteristic numbers YY32384 and YY31402, found in Polish territory

Павялічыць

At the same time, this experience showed that cyberspace has become a full-fledged front of the war. In Ukraine, the creation of Cyber Forces has been discussed for several years, but the legislative formalization of this issue is delayed. Experts emphasize that the legalization and systematic coordination of cyber units would allow the large-scale development of similar operations and strengthen the country's defense.

Павялічыць

Fragment of the tail section of the decoy drone «Gerbera» with number YY31704, found on a beach in Latvia

The six-month cyber campaign, which uncovered the use of Belarusian infrastructure for Russian attacks and the testing of routes towards NATO countries, proved that war in cyberspace has strategic importance and requires not only professionals but also clear state decisions.

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