This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for enabling user equipment (UE) mobility within an area. In one aspect, a base station (BS) may configure a set of cells for serving a UE, as well as a set of relay UEs to relay communications for the UE, for example via sidelink communications. The BS may transmit control signaling to the UE indicating the configured set of cells and the set of relay UEs. The UE may establish communications links via sidelink connections with one or more of the relay UEs, and determine an activated subset of cells for data and control transfer. In some implementations, the UE may be configured to autonomously activate or deactivate relay UEs based on the mobility of the UE, and report the activation or deactivation to the BS.