Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A first user equipment (UE) may be configured to communicate with a first base station, where the first UE is configured to relay wireless communications between a second UE and the first base station via at least a sidelink communication link between the first UE and the second UE. The first UE may receive, from the first base station, an indication for the first UE to perform a first handover procedure from the first base station to a second base station. The first UE may transmit, to the second UE via the sidelink communication link and based on receiving the indication to perform the first handover procedure, a sidelink transmission including a trigger for the second UE to perform a second handover procedure or a reselection procedure. The first UE may then communicate with the second base station based on performing the first handover procedure from the first base station to the second base station.