Claim
Russian MESH radio relays may be operating in Kyiv, potentially allowing Russian operators to control Shahed drones and adjust their strikes in real time during attacks on the city
Attributed to Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov (Flash)
Evidence
Multiple Ukrainian and international outlets (Kyiv Post, The New Voice of Ukraine, Pravda.ua English edition, Censor.net, Liga.net, and an AFP-sourced Yahoo News article) confirm that Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian presidential technology adviser known by the call-sign 'Flash,' publicly stated that Russian MESH radio relays/repeaters may be operating inside Kyiv, potentially allowing operators to guide Shahed drones and adjust strikes in real time. Beskrestnov based this on his own analysis of recent precision strikes, including one on an SBU building and strikes on Kyiv bridges, and explicitly framed it as a hypothesis ('may be,' 'possibly 1-3 repeaters'), not a confirmed fact. No Reuters Fact Check, AFP Fact Check, Bellingcat, or EUvsDisinfo article was found independently verifying, geolocating, or debunking this specific technical claim about hidden relay stations in Kyiv.
Assessment
The attribution to Beskrestnov is well corroborated by multiple independent news outlets reporting the same statement, but the underlying technical claim about hidden Russian relays in Kyiv is presented by Beskrestnov himself as an unconfirmed hypothesis, and no independent technical verification or fact-check organization assessment of that claim was found.
Confidence
Some independent corroboration was found, but it isn't yet conclusive.
Timeline
Oct 4, 2026, 9:40 AM UTC
UnverifiedInitial assessment.
First observed Oct 4, 2026, 9:40 AM UTC · Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026, 9:40 AM UTC