Hvardiiske Expansion: Russia Adds 60 Drone Shelters in Crimea
Satellite images show new earthen embankments and small garages built at the occupied airbase following a series of Ukrainian strikes earlier this year.
By Kwame Barrett ·
Russia has constructed over 60 new storage facilities for Geran strike drones at the Hvardiiske airbase in occupied Crimea. The expansion was identified in recent satellite imagery posted by OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint, who tracks Russian military infrastructure.
The images reveal more than 20 small shelters protected by earthen embankments. Additionally, approximately 40 smaller structures described as garages are visible on the base. Dnipro Osint stated these units are intended for storing, servicing, and preparing drones for launch.
The construction comes after a series of Ukrainian attacks on the site. On September 1, Ukraine's General Staff struck a location used for storing and launching strike UAVs at Hvardiiske. A similar attack occurred on August 17. Earlier in August, satellite data showed damage to Geran hangars, and in July, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that two hangars holding Shahed drones and aviation equipment had been hit.
The analyst noted that traces of these previous strikes remain visible in the current imagery. At least one hangar displays damage attributed to an unmanned aerial vehicle strike. Dnipro Osint highlighted that the airbase relies on mobile launch platforms rather than stationary ones. Drones are loaded onto specially equipped vehicles and launched from the runway.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
