Expert suggests Russia may use concealed drone signal repeaters to enhance operations in Ukraine

<p>Russia may be concealing signal repeaters inside Ukrainian cities to assist its long-range drones in evading air defenses and striking with greater precision, according to weapons expert Cameron Chell, CEO and co-founder of Draganfly. This information was first reported by the Kyiv Post.</p><p>Chell explained that these small ground devices form part of an expanding "mesh" network that allows Russian drones to relay encrypted signals across multiple connections, making them harder for Ukraine to disrupt through standard electronic jamming.</p><p>This warning coincides with escalating diplomatic notices from Moscow, which urged foreign nationals and embassy staff to leave Kyiv immediately on October 3, citing "mortal danger" as Russian forces threatened further "massive retaliatory strikes."</p><p>Chell stated, "Russia has come to the realization that innovation is going to have to win this war, to the point now where they are becoming the innovative leader in this war—not just in terms of tactics, strategy, and technology, but the entire mindset is shifting."</p><p>He elaborated that mesh networks enable drones and strategically placed ground-based repeaters to relay encrypted signals, complicating efforts to disrupt Russian drone flights.</p><p>"The use of mesh networking is now making it increasingly hard for a defensive position to bring down Russian drones effectively," Chell said, highlighting that Russia can make real-time decisions regarding drone operations due to the increased bandwidth and resilience against jamming.</p><p>Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat confirmed on September 29 that Russian forces are integrating mesh networking into their drone fleet while upgrading onboard optics. Ihnat noted that the enemy is using high-quality materials in its UAVs, which allows for detailed ground observation and targeting.</p><p>On October 3, Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, warned that Russian forces may have concealed small signal boosters, or ground repeaters, inside Kyiv to extend drone control. He emphasized the difficulty in locating these devices, stating, "As long as they exist, shielding the city with electronic warfare will not be effective."</p><p>These repeaters are described as small concealed radio relay devices that receive and retransmit signals, extending the range of drone operators while maintaining control in areas where direct communications or GPS signals may be disrupted. Chell noted that the size of these repeaters is comparable to a large lunchbox, making them easy to conceal and hard to detect electronically.</p><p>Technical analysts pointed to a September 4 strike on the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) headquarters in Kyiv as early evidence of this tactic, with tracking data showing no relay drones airborne during the strike, raising concerns about the use of hidden ground-based repeaters.</p><p>Chell warned that Russia is likely to deploy these devices not only in Kyiv but across various operational battlefields, stating, "The reality is every time you put another node on a mesh network, you exponentially increase the efficiency, resiliency, and capability of that network."</p><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on September 28 that while Ukraine intercepts about 70% of conventional Russian drones during mass attacks, interception rates fall to 57% against newer, faster jet-powered UAVs. He also noted that Russia plans to spend $12 billion on producing jet-powered drones and loitering munitions next year, indicating an ongoing commitment to enhancing its military capabilities.</p><p>Chell concluded by asserting that the network guiding the drones has become the weapon, with the drones themselves executing the desired results, marking a significant shift in warfare tactics.</p>