Satellite Photos Reveal Russia's Secret Drone Launch Sites

Expansion of Drone Operations in Russia

Recent satellite imagery has revealed a significant expansion of drone operations in Russia, with the establishment of new launch sites and storage facilities across the country. These developments highlight a growing investment in the nation’s drone capabilities, particularly in the use of one-way attack drones.

The images, captured by Maxar Technologies and reviewed by Business Insider, show clear signs of infrastructure designed to support drone launches and storage. The bases in question—Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Navlya, and Tsimbulova—have been identified as key locations for staging attacks against Ukraine. The structures observed include launch rails, runways, and hardened shelters, which are essential for the deployment of drones.

Russia has significantly increased the production and launch rates of the Geran-2, a one-way attack drone modeled after the Iranian-designed Shahed-136. These drones, equipped with explosives, have been used extensively in nightly strikes against Ukrainian cities. Their effectiveness has made them a critical component of Russia's military strategy.

Key Bases and Infrastructure Developments

Brady Africk, an open-source intelligence analyst, has closely tracked the development of these drone bases. He noted that construction at the three bases began last year, with specific activities starting in November 2024 at Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base. This location, situated in the Krasnodar Krai region along the Sea of Azov, has been a target for Ukrainian attacks. In August, the SBU claimed responsibility for striking the base due to its role in storing and launching Shahed drones.

Kyle Glen, an investigator at the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience, highlighted that Primorsko-Akhtarsk is one of the main launch sites for attacks against Ukraine. Further north, in the Bryansk region, construction work at the Navlya base began in July. The site includes launch positions and areas for drone storage. Similarly, in the Oryol region, construction at Tsimbulova started in September 2024, featuring a long road stretch for launching drones from moving vehicles. Russian media recently released footage showing Shahed-style drones launching from pickup trucks at this site.

Africk explained that these smaller launch sites require less infrastructure than full-fledged air bases, making them harder to detect and target. They also provide both the means to launch drones and secure storage for them, complicating efforts to disrupt their operations.

The Role of Iranian-Designed Drones

The Iranian-designed Shahed is a one-way attack drone, or loitering munition, capable of flying hundreds of miles and lingering over an area before crashing into its target. These drones have had devastating effects on Ukrainian cities since their introduction in 2022. Russia later established a factory in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, to produce these drones domestically. The plant now produces an estimated 5,000 drones each month, allowing Russia to scale up production without relying on Iran.

Western assessments suggest that Moscow may soon be able to launch 2,000 drones in a single night. Brady Africk emphasized that Russia's capacity to launch these drones has grown in tandem with its domestic production capabilities. Additional launch sites beyond the known ones are believed to exist.

Recent Drone Attacks and Trends

Britain's defense ministry reported that Russia launched approximately 6,200 one-way attack drones at Ukraine in July, setting a new monthly record. However, the scale of attacks appears to have decreased in August. According to Ukrainian Air Force figures, Russia launched nearly 1,700 drones in August, compared to around 4,500 in July and 3,500 in June.

Glen suggested that the reduction in attacks might not be due to a capacity issue but rather a strategic self-restraint, possibly in anticipation of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska. Despite this, Monday night saw the largest attack of the month, with 270 drones launched from various directions, including Primorsko-Akhtarsk. This event highlights the potential for Russia to increase its drone attacks in the future.