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Russia Builds New Drone Base Near Ukraine Capable of Launching 100 Attack Drones Daily
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Russia is building a new drone launch facility near the Millerovo military airfield in the Rostov region, capable of supporting up to 100 attack drone launches per day, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense (HUR) reported on October 28.
The facility's construction was confirmed through satellite imagery, according to Oboronka, citing an official statement by HUR. The site is located near Russia's border with Ukraine's temporarily occupied Luhansk region.
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"The facility's configuration indicates that it is designed to prepare and launch jet-powered attack drones, likely Geran-4 and Geran-5, as well as their modifications. Preliminary estimates suggest that once construction is complete, the site will be capable of supporting up to 100 launches per day," HUR stated.
According to the intelligence directorate, satellite imagery showed no visible signs of active construction at the site in late August 2026. By mid-October, Russian forces had established launch positions and supporting infrastructure.
HUR noted that the rapid construction could be explained by the use of standardized technical solutions and the concentration of resources on relatively simple launch infrastructure.
"The construction of a new UAV launch facility just 3.5 kilometers from Millerovo airfield means that the Russians intend to use the same air defense systems protecting the airfield to defend it," HUR explained.
The facility could also benefit from existing roads, communications networks, logistics infrastructure, and technical support systems associated with the military airfield.
However, HUR emphasized that the actual launch rate would depend on the availability of drones, fuel, warheads, trained crews, operational equipment, and assigned missions.
Meanwhile, Russia is modernizing its Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered attack drones, the intelligence directorate reported. The Geran-4 has a range of up to 770 kilometers and has received additional autonomous navigation capabilities, including an optical terrain-matching system.
HUR also reported that Russia has equipped the Geran-4 with a domestically produced jet engine and a new warhead designed to strike bridges and power transmission line supports.
The Geran-5 has a reported range of up to 950 kilometers. Its K5 modification is being fitted with a similar optical navigation system, potentially improving its ability to navigate without relying exclusively on satellite signals.
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According to HUR, Russia currently operates at least 12 permanent attack drone launch facilities. The Millerovo site would expand this network and could form part of preparations to intensify drone strikes against Ukraine, particularly during the winter.
The Millerovo site is not an isolated expansion: the Tsymbulova drone base in the Oryol region has also been adding shelters and launchers for jet-powered drones as Russia ramps up output of the Gerans themselves.
As of early October, Russia was producing around 2,000 Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones per month, though further growth hinges on turbojet engines largely supplied by China. Russian forces have also amassed roughly 10,000 piston-engine strike drones and launch both types together in successive waves to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses.
Ukraine has been developing interceptor drones in response, with a domestically produced P1-SUN JetKiller downing a Geran-5 on September 30.
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