Russia builds border drone bases to scale up strikes on Ukraine
Russia builds bases to scale up its drone raids (Photo: NTV screenshot)
Russia is expanding a network of long-range drone launch bases along its Ukraine and Belarus borders, which could intensify strikes against Ukraine and create a potential threat to NATO, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Aug. 17.
According to The Telegraph, Russian forces have installed 59 new launch rails across 10 sites, each capable of accommodating over 1,000 uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Military analysts assessed that approximately 20 of the newly installed launchers feature extended lengths, likely indicating preparations to deploy jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 strike drones.
Deploying these bases in western Russia will enable occupation forces to scale up simultaneous launches and strike deeper into remote Ukrainian oblasts, ISW analysts wrote.
Relocating launch facilities further from the frontline may also represent an effort to safeguard Russian military infrastructure from Ukrainian retaliatory strikes, ISW noted.
Analysts warned that if the Kremlin decides to escalate, the new bases could be utilized not only against Ukraine but also for future strikes against NATO members. The sites significantly expand the number of drones Russia can fire simultaneously, while their geographic placement puts Alliance territory within operational reach.
On Aug. 16, the UK newspaper The Telegraph published an investigation revealing that Russia has constructed a series of secret bases capable of launching advanced jet-powered Shahed drones for deep strikes against NATO territory.
On Aug. 17, NATO officials stated that the Alliance is closely tracking Russian military activity, particularly Moscow's capacity to conduct long-range drone and missile strikes against member states, emphasizing that allied forces maintain the necessary readiness, plans, and capabilities to deter aggression and reinforce the eastern flank.
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