Russia builds UAV launch site right next to the front line

Satellite images reveal that Russia has built a new UAV launch site at Donetsk airport, which will shorten the time to attack Ukraine but also comes with many risks.

Recently, a number of satellite images widely shared on social media have attracted the attention of international observers, showing unusual military activities in the Donetsk region. These images quickly sparked speculation that Russia is increasing the construction of military infrastructure near the front line to support UAV operations.

Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, taken on August 24, shows that Russia has established a drone launch pad at the Donetsk airport in the Moscow-controlled part of eastern Ukraine. The old runway, with its launch rails and UAV storage sheds, was built in late May and continues to expand.

Donetsk is one of the most heavily fought areas in Donbas, where Russia controls about 75% of the territory. Donetsk airport was heavily damaged by years of fighting and has been out of service since 2014. It is now less than 20 miles from the front line, making it a strategic flashpoint.

According to Ukraine’s Cyberboroshno intelligence group, the new facility is designed to launch Shahed suicide drones – Iranian-designed weapons that have wreaked havoc in several Ukrainian cities. With short distances, these UAVs can quickly overcome air defenses and approach their targets.

Kyle Glen, an analyst at the Center for Information Resilience (UK), commented: “It is unusual for Russia to place a launch site so close to the front line. Normally, UAV launch sites are located deep inside Russian territory.”

In addition, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW, USA) also warned that UAV launch sites near the front line would reduce the reaction time of Ukrainian air defense forces, putting Kiev at risk of being attacked in waves. At the same time, they could put great pressure on NATO if the attacks spread.

However, the advantage of time does not mean safety. Experts emphasize that Donetsk airport could become Russia's "Achilles' heel". The base is within range of many Ukrainian weapons, from suicide drones, long-range artillery to cruise missiles. Even just precision strikes with cheap weapons are enough to cause great damage to Russia.

Brady Africk, an open-source intelligence analyst, said Russia often combines explosive-laden attack UAVs with decoy UAVs to erode Ukraine’s air defenses. “If they are not destroyed on the ground, Ukraine will have to expend a lot of resources to deal with these UAVs in the air,” he said.

In addition to Donetsk, Russia has a number of other UAV launch sites located deep inside its territory, such as in Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Krasnodar), Bryansk, Oryol, Smolensk and Rostov. These facilities are all reinforced with embankments, solid hangars and runways to support UAV launches.

Ukraine has demonstrated its deep reach with UAVs, successfully attacking Primorsko-Akhtarsk, which is 240 km from the front line. This makes the Donetsk facility, which is much closer, the most vulnerable target.

According to the British Ministry of Defense , Russia is significantly increasing its production of suicide UAVs, producing thousands of Shahed imitations every month. In July 2025 alone, Moscow launched 6,200 UAVs into Ukraine - a record number since the beginning of the conflict.

While the frontline UAV launch strategy provides Russia with immediate pressure, it also makes Donetsk a “double-edged sword.” If Ukraine takes advantage of the opportunity, the Donetsk airport could quickly be reduced to rubble, eroding the UAV advantage that Moscow is trying to maintain.

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