Russia Builds Drone Base Near Ukraine Border in Six Weeks
Reuters: Russia has built a new large base for launching drones at the border with Ukraine in just six weeks. Russia has almost completed the construction of a large new base for launching reactive drones in the Rostov region.
Consensus
- Russia completed construction of a large drone launch facility near Millerovo in Rostov Oblast in approximately six weeks.
- The site was an empty field on August 31.
- By mid-October 2024, the site had transformed into a complex with an area equivalent to about 126 football fields.
- The facility is located approximately 3.5 km from the Millerovo airbase.
- The Millerovo airbase hosts the 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
- The base is intended for launching reaction drones, specifically the 'Gerny-4' and 'Herny-5' models.
- The facility includes eight launch platforms.
- The base is expected to enable the launch of 100 or more reaction drones per day.
- The construction coincided with a significant increase in Russia's use of reaction drones against Ukraine.
- The base is likely protected by air defense systems from the Millerovo airbase.
- The construction speed reflects Russia's ability to rapidly scale up offensive capabilities.
Points of divergence
- Two launch platforms already have guidance rails installed, and two others are still under installation. — tg_astrapress
- The base may begin operations in the coming weeks. — tg_echoonline_news
- The base will be operational in 'countless weeks, if not less'. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The base will allow Russia to nearly double its reaction drone launch capacity. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The base includes 32 preparation sites for drones in addition to 8 launch platforms. — tg_theinsider
Coverage (8 sources)
- Russia almost built a new base under Rostov in six weeks for launching strike drones, — Reuters — ASTRA
- Russia built a large base in the Rostov region for launching strike drones — Reuters — ЭХО / Новости
- Reuters: Russia built a new large drone launch base near the Ukrainian border in six weeks — Радио Свобода
- Russia built a base in the Rostov region for mass launch of reactive drones against Ukraine — The Moscow Times
- Reuters: Russia built a new large drone launch base near the Ukrainian border in six weeks — Настоящее Время
- Russia built a base for launching unmanned aerial vehicles in half a month near the borders of Ukraine — Meduza
- Russia built a large base for launching strike drones in the Rostov region in six weeks — Reuters — Дождь (Telegram)
- In the Rostov region, a new large drone port for attacks on Ukraine was built in six weeks, satellite images confirm... — The Insider