Russia has reportedly set up 10 secret bases and 59 launch pads for drones along its border with Belarus and Ukraine, putting several Nato countries within the striking range. While eastern European nations like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia are most exposed, Russia boasts that its drones can also reach British shores.
Russia has set up 10 secret drone bases along its borders with Belarus and Ukraine, putting several Nato members within the striking range, according to The Telegraph.
Citing satellite images and leaked documents, the newspaper reported that it had identified at least 59 new launch rails —mechanical guide tracks used for the take-off of fixed-wing drones in exchange of a runway— in these bases along Russia’s border with Belarus and Ukraine.
Belarus borders three Nato members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, and Ukraine additionally shares border with Nato members Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.
An analysis of the satellite imagery by drone intelligence firm DroneSec found that about 20 of these launch rails were new and appeared to be of an extended length. The extended length indicates the ability to launch Russia’s latest long-range attack drones.
While eastern European nations like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia are most exposed, Russia boasts that its drones can also reach British shores. The newspaper reported that Russia has already been using some of these bases and launch rails to for near-daily aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Putin deploys long-range drones to hammer Ukraine, scare Nato
As per the satellite imagery, Russia has had a “significant increase” in the presence of hi-tech drones with enough storage for 1,000 drones at a time.
The report comes at a time when concerns are mounting in Europe and even the US intelligence community that Russian leader Vladimir Putin could soon strike beyond Ukraine as part of his hybrid war on Europe.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Putin could escalate his hybrid war by mounting a limited ground incursion or launching cyberattacks across Eastern Europe at any time from this autumn to 2029, according to a US intelligence assessment.
The report followed another intelligence assessment by US and European agencies, as reported by The Telegraph, that Russia was considering armed provocations against Poland, including missile or drone strikes against critical infrastructure or false-flag attacks intended to blame Ukraine.
DroneSec CEO Mike Monnik said that Russia has “significantly expanded” its drone network to “attack Ukraine and to hold Nato states at risk of such attacks”.
Monnik further told the newspaper, “This launch site expansion shows how Russia has expanded its ability to launch greater numbers of drones while at the same time using technology to make the types of drones used more difficult to intercept. These two elements combine to enable a growing number of total unmanned aircraft systems Russia can use to attack Ukraine and increase the difficulty facing Ukrainian forces in intercepting newer Russian drone designs.”