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Satellite Images Reveal Russia Building Aircraft Bunkers at 14 Air Bases
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has reportedly begun large-scale construction of aircraft shelters across 14 military airfields, including several in occupied Crimea, in an apparent attempt to shield its aircraft from Ukrainian drone strikes.
The activity was documented by open-source intelligence analyst Def Mon using satellite imagery, as cited by multiple Ukrainian media outlets on June 8.
According to Def Mon, the construction of hardened shelters began in the fall of 2024 and has since expanded to a total of 14 locations. These include airfields in the occupied Crimean settlements of Kirovske, Sevastopol, Hvardiiske, and Saky.
On Russian territory, construction is ongoing at the following airbases: Yeysk, Krymsk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Khanskaya (Adygea), Millerovo, Akhtubinsk, Borisoglebsk, Kursk, and Lipetsk, as well as the Engels strategic aviation base — home to Russia’s Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers.
Satellite images suggest that some shelters are already completed, while others are still under construction. Previous reports from 2023 and 2024 indicated that Russia had started reinforcing its air assets by building hangars and installing fire-resistant curtains to mitigate the effects of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Strategic Aviation
The development follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian military airfields deep within Russian territory. On June 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a coordinated drone operation codenamed “Spiderweb”, targeting four military airbases in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the operation damaged or destroyed at least 41 strategic aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, A-50 airborne early warning aircraft, and Tu-160s. The attack on the Ivanovo base reportedly resulted in the destruction of at least one A-50 aircraft, confirmed by satellite imagery published on June 3.
While the exact level of damage remains under assessment, this operation marked one of Ukraine’s most extensive long-range strikes on Russian aviation assets to date.
