Russia Builds Up Jet-Powered Drone Strike Hub Near Ukraine. Here’s What Satellite Images Reveal

Russian forces have completed the deployment of 16 launchers for jet-powered attack drones at the Tsymbulova drone base in Russia’s Oryol region, while satellite imagery also shows more than 100 drones stored in the open at the facility.

According to satellite imagery published by the Ukrainian monitoring channel Strategic Aviation on August 15, the new infrastructure includes 10 launchers designed for Geran-5 drones and six for Geran-4 UAVs. The work was completed over roughly one month.

The facility also contains four launchers for Geran-3 drones and three launchers for the more widely used Geran-2, the Russian designation for Shahed-type attack drones.

Satellite images reviewed by Strategic Aviation show at least 37 Geran-5 and eight Geran-4 jet-powered drones positioned at the site, alongside 56 Geran-2 attack UAVs.

The imagery also indicates that Russia is expanding storage capacity at Tsymbulova. Construction is continuing in the western section of the base, where smaller drone storage buildings are being added alongside larger warehouse facilities.

Russia has additionally installed nearly 100 solar panels across the site. According to Strategic Aviation, they are intended to provide supplementary power for communications equipment, weather stations, and drone guidance systems, increasing the facility’s ability to continue operating during possible power disruptions.

The Tsymbulova drone base is located near the village of Tsymbulova in Russia’s Oryol region, approximately 175–180 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The expansion comes as Russia increases production of its newer jet-powered attack drones. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence said on August 12 that Russian manufacturers are producing approximately 3,000 Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones per month, with serial production established at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan.

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