Russia expands drone port used to attack Kyiv

According to the channel, expansion work at the drone port has not ceased over the past four weeks. A new site with eight dome-shaped shelters for jet-powered UAVs and a new launch pad has appeared southeast of the existing launchers.

In addition, paved areas have been prepared there for eight more shelters and two additional launch pads.

In early September, six garages for strike drones were still under construction. They have now been completed. Additionally, 14 new garages have appeared along the access road.

Russia enhances drone protection

Some of the ground-level shelters at the drone port have been converted into underground facilities. According to the monitoring authors' assessment, this should significantly complicate their destruction: a direct drone hit may only damage the covering, whereas completely destroying the structure would require a significant number of hits.

At the same time, a football field was constructed on the site of one of the drone storage facilities.

Separately, satellite images showed work near the existing "Geran-5" launch pads. Sites for six additional launchers have been prepared there.

Towers are also being built nearby. The monitoring authors suggest they could be used for stringing anti-drone nets and ensuring communications.

The increase in the number of launch pads is already affecting the structure of Russian attacks on Kyiv. According to "Strategic Aviation," the share of "Geran-5" drones among all UAVs launched at the capital is currently around 75%. Just a month ago, this figure was around 10%.

"We would like to note that the results of constructing a larger number of launchers are already noticeable: the proportion of Geran-5 drones among all UAVs launched at Kyiv is currently around 75% (a month ago, it was around 10%)," the message states.

Drone port continues to expand

According to experts' assessments, work at Tsymbulova will continue. In the northeastern part of the facility, satellites recorded construction equipment on previously unused territory. New warehouse facilities are likely being built there.

At the same time, with the increase in the number of storage facilities, Russian forces are leaving fewer and fewer drones out in the open. If almost 100 UAVs were located in the open area at the end of the summer, their current number, according to monitoring data, barely reaches ten.

Thus, the dispersal of drones, the construction of new shelters, and the increase in the number of launch pads are intended to complicate strikes on the drone port.

In September, Russia significantly increased the number of jet-powered drones used to attack Ukraine.