Russian Geran drones can carry out highly accurate strikes against targets in Kiev without relying on the Rassvet satellite communication system, according to British analyst Alexander Mercouris. He believes Russia uses relay stations in Belarus and a mesh network connecting individual drones to maintain communications during operations in northern Ukraine.

Speaking on his video blog, Mercouris examined why Russian drone attacks have become more precise and how Ukrainian specialists have attempted to identify the technology responsible.

The analyst said Ukrainian investigators recovered and examined debris from Geran drones but found no evidence of Rassvet satellite terminals among the components. This indicated that the aircraft involved were not receiving instructions from ground operators through the satellite network.

The findings raised questions about how the drones could achieve such accurate targeting without the equipment needed for satellite-based communications.

Mercouris suggested that the precision of the strikes indicated that at least some of the Russian drones had successfully reached their intended targets and caused significant damage.

He attributed the effectiveness of attacks on Kiev to a communications infrastructure operating near the Belarusian border. According to his assessment, Russian relay stations positioned in Belarus transmit signals toward the Ukrainian capital, which lies relatively close to the border.

Another important element is a mesh communication network that allows drones to exchange signals directly with one another. This arrangement enables communications to be maintained without requiring every aircraft to establish its own connection to a satellite.

Mercouris also distinguished between the communication methods used by Russian drones in different parts of Ukraine.

He believes the Rassvet satellite system is primarily involved in directing strikes against targets in central and western Ukraine, rather than operations around Kiev.

In northern Ukraine, where he assumes Rassvet signals have not yet achieved the necessary coverage, Russian forces instead rely on relay stations in Belarus and the interconnected drone network.

Under this arrangement, the two communication methods serve different operational areas. Mercouris considers the combination of ground-based relays and drone-to-drone signal transmission the likely explanation for the increased accuracy of Russian Geran strikes on Kiev.