"Russia began the process of converting the airport into a drone base in summer 2025, installing launch rails and storage sheds at the site to stage attacks against Ukraine. Construction continued into the fall, and then it accelerated this year, said Kyle Glen, an open-source investigator with the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience, who has closely tracked the expansion."
"Russia added two new launch rails in recent weeks, bringing the total at the base from six to eight. It also extended two other launch rails, possibly to support newer, heavier drone variants, Glen told Business Insider. New structures - identified by Vantor as small drone storage bunkers - have appeared on the taxiway, while various construction equipment can be seen elsewhere at the base near a set of launch rails."
"Glen said the new additions come as Russia has increasingly used the airport in its nightly drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. In 2025, drones launched from the Donetsk base on only nine nights. In just January and February of this year, there were launches on nearly three dozen nights."
Russia has been expanding a drone base at Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine, adding infrastructure and increasing operational tempo. Satellite imagery from Vantor shows new launch rails, extended existing rails to support heavier drone variants, and new storage bunkers on the taxiway. The base, established in summer 2025, has grown substantially with construction accelerating this year. Russia added two new launch rails, bringing the total from six to eight, and extended two others. Launch frequency has dramatically increased, with only nine nights of launches in 2025 compared to nearly three dozen nights in January and February alone, demonstrating Russia's commitment to expanding drone attack capabilities.
#russia-military-infrastructure #drone-warfare-ukraine #satellite-imagery-intelligence #donetsk-airport-base-expansion
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