Ukraine Breaches Bunkers at Russian Droneport Built to Store and Launch Strike UAVs

Satellite imagery published on September 21 indicates that Ukrainian drones pierced protective bunkers and damaged hangars at Russia’s Tsymbulova droneport in the Oryol region.

Militarnyi reported the damage on September 21, citing satellite imagery published by the Telegram channel Absolutely Reliable.

The Tsymbulova site, near the village of the same name in Russia’s Oryol region, is a dedicated base for storing, preparing, and launching Russian strike drones.

Construction of the facility began in August 2024, and investigators believe the first drone launches may have taken place as early as that autumn.

By 2026, the complex had expanded substantially. Satellite imagery reviewed by Militarnyi showed new launch positions, storage facilities, and support infrastructure for several types of Russian strike UAVs.

By August, the site had 10 launchers for Geran-5 jet-powered drones, 6 for Geran-4 UAVs, 4 for Geran-3 drones, and 3 for standard Geran-2s.

The droneport has repeatedly come under Ukrainian attack.

On the night of August 30, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck storage and launch facilities at the same complex, damaging a Geran launch position and a storage facility for strike UAVs.

The expansion of Tsymbulova coincides with Russia’s broader expansion of its drone production infrastructure.

At its Alabuga complex in Tatarstan, Russia's largest drone-manufacturing operation, construction crews have been excavating underground production halls, with roughly 42,000 square meters of subterranean space already built for planned Geran lines.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense