Satellite images show Russia building drone shelters at Hvardiiske airbase
An OSINT analyst reports new construction at the Crimean airbase where Ukrainian strikes have hit drone storage and launch sites repeatedly since July.
By Pedro Salazar ·
Russia is building new shelters for Geran-type drones at Hvardiiske airbase in occupied Crimea, according to satellite imagery analyzed by OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint, who uses the handle Harbuz. The images show more than 20 small shelters with earthen embankments, along with about 40 smaller garages meant for storing, servicing and preparing drones before launch.
Hvardiiske sits in Crimea, where Ukraine's General Staff struck a site for storing, preparing and launching strike UAVs on September 1. Ukrainian forces attacked a similar facility there on August 17, and satellite images released on August 10 showed damage to hangars for Geran-type drones after Ukrainian attacks.
The analyst's imagery also shows damage on the airbase grounds. At least one hangar carries damage the analyst links to a UAV strike. Dnipro Osint marked the new drone shelters on the satellite images and identified the damaged hangar.
The airbase handles launch operations through mobile platforms rather than stationary launchers. Drones are loaded onto specially equipped vehicles, from which they are subsequently launched on the runway.
The Security Service of Ukraine reported on July 3 that two hangars containing Shahed drones and aviation equipment at the base had been struck.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
