Russia builds shelters for Geran drones at Crimean airbase – photos
The Russians are expanding infrastructure for storing Geran-type strike drones at the Hvardiiske airbase in occupied Crimea.
Source: OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint ⟨Harbuz⟩, who posted satellite images of the facility
Quote: "New satellite imagery has captured the construction of over 20 small shelters protected by earthen embankments, as well as around 40 smaller 'garages' intended for storing, servicing and preparing drones for launch."
Details: Dnipro Osint ⟨Harbuz⟩ assessed that consequences of previous Ukrainian attacks are also visible on the airbase's territory. In particular, at least one hangar shows damage that the analyst attributes to a UAV strike.
The analyst marked the new drone shelters on the posted satellite images and highlighted a section of the airbase where signs of damage to one of the hangars have been recorded.
Quote: "A key feature of the Hvardiiske airbase is the use of mobile launch platforms instead of stationary launchers. Drones are loaded onto specially equipped vehicles, from which they are subsequently launched on the runway."
Read more: "Droneports": inside Russian UAV bases and why they are so difficult to destroy
Background:
- On 1 September, Ukraine's General Staff struck a site for the storage, preparation and launch of strike UAVs in Hvardiiske.
- On 17 August, Ukrainian forces attacked a similar facility.
- On 10 August, satellite images revealed damage to Geran-type drones' hangars following Ukrainian attacks.
- On 3 July, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that two hangars containing Shahed drones and aviation equipment at the airbase had been struck.
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