Russia is constructing an extensive military communications network in Belarus that points directly towards NATO’s eastern flank, according to a new report by Belarusian organisation BELPOL. The radio lines run from east to west, connecting Russian territory with areas near the borders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
According to Spider’s Web – technologie, analysts have mapped the routes and identified equipment used in the construction. They believe Moscow is preparing infrastructure that would enable more efficient command of troops near NATO’s eastern borders.
The pattern of deployment is particularly striking. Rather than focusing on Minsk and major Belarusian military installations, the new connections form trunk lines running primarily from Russia towards NATO member states and Ukraine. One described route follows the M-10 road linking Gomel with Brest, which sits directly on the Polish border. Other connections include routes from Russian Klintsy to Brest, Smolensk to Minsk, and Pskov towards Gomel.
Russian equipment and control
The network relies on directional radio links that transmit information using focused radio wave beams between specific receivers, avoiding the need for physical cables. When distances are too great, intermediate stations receive and relay the signal onwards, creating an extensive web of radio connections.
In Belarus, equipment is being installed mainly on towers belonging to mobile operator MTS. The company’s ownership structure bridges both countries: 51 per cent belongs to Belarus and 49 per cent to Russian capital. The nodes use Russian M-416GM radio stations, designed to facilitate cooperation between the military communication systems of both states by overcoming earlier protocol incompatibilities.
Perhaps most significantly, BELPOL’s findings indicate that the main control centre for the network is located on Russian territory. This would mean that a key element of a system operating in Belarus remains outside the control of local command, further deepening Belarusian armed forces’ dependence on Moscow.
Broader military preparations
The communications infrastructure forms part of wider militarisation efforts in Belarus. The BELPOL report, prepared with Belarusian railway workers, also describes railway infrastructure being adapted to Russian military needs. Between January and April 2022, nearly 11,900 wagons carrying approximately 230,000 tonnes of military cargo were delivered from Russia to Belarus in preparation for the invasion of Ukraine.
Efficient communications and transport complement each other in military operations. The ability to move units rapidly has limited value if command cannot maintain contact with them. Conversely, even the best communication systems cannot replace the capacity to deliver equipment, ammunition and fuel.
According to the report, Belarus’s railway system now includes backup traffic management centres, with military representatives permanently stationed at the central control centre in Minsk. Facilities are also being expanded to handle military transports outside normal passenger and freight stations.
What this means for Poles in Poland
The findings have particular significance for Poland, as some of the new connections lead towards Brest and other areas along NATO borders. While this does not indicate an imminent threat of attack, it shows Russia is developing capabilities that could be used in a crisis situation.
Poland is responding with its own defensive infrastructure through the Tarcza Wschód (Eastern Shield) programme, which includes fortifications, reconnaissance systems and solutions to hinder enemy movement across the border. The programme also covers development of communications and command infrastructure.
The most concerning aspect of the Russian-Belarusian network is not the presence of antennas themselves, but their deployment pattern and planned integration. According to BELPOL, the infrastructure is not being developed primarily around national command centres, but along routes important for moving Russian units westward. It remains unclear how much of the new network is fully operational or how it would perform in actual combat conditions, and available evidence does not confirm that Russia has decided to launch an offensive against NATO.
For residents of eastern Poland, the military build-up underscores why Polish authorities continue strengthening border security and expanding domestic defence capabilities. Anyone living near the eastern border should stay informed through official government channels about civil defence preparations and emergency procedures.
