Zelensky Issues One-Week Ultimatum to Lukashenko to Remove Russian Drone Guidance Equipment

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a one-week ultimatum to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, demanding the immediate removal or deactivation of Russian military equipment hosted on Belarusian soil.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday, June 19, Zelensky warned that Ukraine would take direct military action if the equipment remained active past the deadline.

Al Jazeera

Zelensky said Russian forces were utilizing signal relay stations positioned in two Belarusian regions directly bordering Ukraine to help guide precision drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian civilians.

RBC-Ukraine reported that Zelensky’s demand was tied to relay stations for Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, saying the equipment was installed on towers in Belarus and used to guide and adjust Russian strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine.

RBC-Ukraine also quoted a Ukrainian Defense Forces source emphasizing, "This is the equipment in question. No other equipment is being observed there from the Belarusian border".

At a joint news conference in Kyiv alongside Honduran President Nasry Asfura, Zelensky told Lukashenko, "Let him remove this equipment, let him switch it off," and said, "I think a week will be enough for him to do that."

Zelensky added, "If he doesn't do it, we will," framing the ultimatum as a response to systems he said were supporting attacks that were killing civilians and wounding children.

Analisi Difesa

The Kyiv Independent reported Zelensky said, "There are relay systems on those towers," and warned that if Lukashenko did not remove and switch off the equipment, Ukraine would act.

In a separate account, mezha.net said Zelensky described a drone strike on a bus carrying Belarusian children as "one of the Russian provocations" used to draw the Belarusian people into the Russia-Ukraine war.

mezha.net further reported that Ukraine’s General Staff refuted Russia’s statements about an allegedly hit on a bus with a children’s football team in Bryansk Oblast.

Beyond the ultimatum, Ukraine announced sanctions targeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with Volodymyr Zelensky saying on Wednesday, February 18, "Ukraine today imposed a series of sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko".

Euronews reported that Zelensky said that in the second half of 2025 Russia deployed a system of relay stations to control attack drones on Belarusian territory, strengthening the Russian army’s ability to strike northern regions of Ukraine.

Euronews also quoted Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya saying Kyiv’s announcement was "principled and timely," and thanking Zelensky for sanctioning Lukashenko.

In the same Euronews account, Tsikhanouskaya argued Lukashenko is not legitimate and survives only thanks to repression and Moscow’s support, saying he "actively supports the war" by providing territory, infrastructure, and now support for missile and drone systems.

L'Indépendant added that Zelensky said more than 3,000 Belarusian companies were taking part in the Russian war effort by providing equipment, machinery and components deemed essential.