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Russia Completes Drone Launch Base Near Ukraine in Six Weeks

Updated 4:14 PM ET · 6:29 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: In just six weeks, Russia has completed a new drone launch facility near Ukraine, capable of launching up to 100 jet-powered drones in a day, according to satellite imagery.

Arise News (Nigeria) and the Kyiv Post (Ukraine) reported that satellite imagery shows a 0.9-square-kilometre facility nearing completion in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region, which could launch up to 100 jet-powered drones in 24 hours.

According to DroneSec founder Mike Monnik, the facility, which transformed from an empty field on August 31 to a complex spanning roughly 126 football pitches by October 14, is designed to launch Russia’s latest jet-powered drones, the Geran-4 and Geran-5, capable of reaching speeds of up to 600 kilometers per hour.

Both outlets agree that the site is part of a network of at least 11 fixed launch sites used in attacks on Ukraine, and that the facility’s rapid construction reflects Russia’s growing confidence in its deep-strike capabilities.

Arise News noted that the facility’s eight platforms on the western side could accommodate launch rails for the drones, while the Kyiv Post reported that two of the platforms already had launch rails mounted and two more were under construction.

The BBC (United Kingdom) reported that Russian forces had damaged a seven-story nonresidential administrative building in Kyiv, while Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko initially reported a drone attack on a nonresidential building, later confirming it was part of the National Academy of Sciences.

Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Russian strikes launched against Ukraine overnight included 27 ballistic missiles, with only one intercepted due to a lack of interceptors for the Patriot system.

Arise News and the Kyiv Post both stated that the facility’s rapid construction demonstrates the ease with which Russia can bring established offensive capabilities to bear rapidly, potentially at the expense of conventional ground forces.

The facility’s proximity to Ukraine and its capacity to launch large-scale attacks using unmanned aerial systems pose a strategic vulnerability for NATO countries, according to Rob Jordan, programme director at the London-based RUSI think-tank.

Both Arise News and the Kyiv Post agree that the new facility adds to Russia’s network of drone launch sites, expanding its long-range strike capabilities and posing a significant threat to Ukraine and potentially NATO territories.

The speed of construction and the facility’s potential to launch up to 100 jet-powered drones in a single day highlight Russia’s strategic shift towards drone warfare, emphasizing the need for enhanced defensive measures by Ukraine and its allies.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Monnik estimated that the facility could potentially launch 100 or more jet-powered drones in 24 hours, although actual capacity would depend on supplies, operational objectives and other factors.
• In brief: Russia has nearly completed a massive jet-powered drone launch base near Ukraine in just six weeks, satellite imagery shows.
• “This level of construction in this short a time is impressive,” he said, adding that it reflected Russia’s growing confidence in its deep-strike capabilities, potentially at the expense of conventional ground forces.
• “The speed of construction … demonstrates the ease with which Russia can bring now-established offensive capabilities to bear rapidly,” Monnik said, adding that the site appeared close to completion and could become operational within weeks, if not sooner.

What's still developing

• Trump said the deal was reached in a discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is expected to bring the cost of diesel down for Americans in the near future.
• New Delhi, Oct 14: A missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement struck a building belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran overnight, escalating the confrontation between the Iran-backed group and the Saudi-led coalition, the BBC reported.
• " near the Central Station, Kyiv Independent reporters confirmed. The round structure was built in the 70's as an experimental indoor market and is one of Kyiv's many modernist buildings. Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia, said that Russia struck railway infrastructure in Kyiv and injured one of their workers. At 11:02 am local time, Ukrzaliznytsia said that the Kyiv Central Station was not damaged by the Russian strikes."
• The building, located near Delhi University's South Campus and opposite Sri Venkateswara College, collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair and renovation work was reportedly underway.
• The matter relates to the collapse of a building in the student-dominated Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus.
• Ukraine is also seeking security guarantees from partners for a deal.
• The USD/JPY pair builds on the previous day's bounce from the 156.40-156.35 region, or a one-and-a-half-week low, and gains strong follow-through traction during the Asian session on Thursday.
• LONDON: A seventh man was arrested Tuesday over a major incident last month at a British military airbase used by the United States to launch strikes on Iran, police said.
• A Russian drone targeted a medical center operated by Dobrobut Academy near Kyiv’s Olimpiiska metro station on Monday, Sept. 28, with the building catching fire, according to a Kyiv Post correspondent at the scene.
• The total Russian combat losses from February 24, 2022, to September 12, 2026, are estimated to be: Estimated overall Russian combat losses as of September 12, 2026 (photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) Russia says it is open to resuming peace talks with Ukraine and expects another trilateral meeting with the United States in the near future.
• Battlefield positions have changed little since last year, in part because swarms of drones severely restrict troop movements, but Kyiv's forces launched a recent offensive, code-named Operation Vivaldi, on part of the 800-mile front line.
• The chancellor stressed that Russia continues to strike cities, residential buildings and thermal power plants.

Sources

• Arise Newslink
• Kyiv Postlink
• National Security Journallink
• National Security Newslink
• Newsukrainelink
• Tampa Free Presslink
• Türkiye Todaylink
• UNITED24 Medialink
• https://theins.press/enlink
• Al Jazeeralink
• CBS Newslink
• Therecordlink
• Kyivindependentlink
• Newsukrainelink
• BBClink
• Kyivpostlink
• LiveNOW from FOX — video link