An investigation by The Telegraph has identified 10 new Kremlin bases equipped with launch platforms for long-range kamikaze drones.
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Some of these installations are already being used in attacks on Ukraine. Their position near the border enables Russian forces to carry out massive airstrikes, taking advantage of the weakening of Kyiv’s air defenses.
However, these bases also pose a long-term risk to NATO member states, as they bring them within range of Russia’s advanced attack drones.
Experts warn that the rapid advancement of this technology could turn it into a threat to Europe in the event of a conflict. Some of the bases place Russia’s most powerful drones within striking distance of Warsaw.
Intelligence officials from Europe and the United States believe that Moscow is considering the possibility of an armed provocation on Polish territory, missile or drone attacks against critical infrastructure, as well as false-flag operations that would be attributed to Ukraine.
A NATO representative told The Telegraph that the alliance was “ready to defend every inch of allied territory” and would continue to “increase our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones.”
The investigation, based on leaked documents and satellite photographs, identified at least 59 new launch rails along Russia’s border with Belarus and Ukraine. These are mechanical guidance structures used to launch fixed-wing drones, replacing traditional runways.
Some centers were created by adapting military bases and civilian airports, while other platforms were built in rural areas of Russia.
An analysis of images by DroneSec, a company specializing in drone intelligence, showed that around 20 of the recently installed rails appeared to be longer. This suggests that they could be used to launch new Russian models with long-range capabilities.
Moscow has rapidly modernized its version of the Iranian Shahed drone. New variants with jet engines and high speeds can strike targets nearly 620 miles away.
If these models are used from the identified bases, the Polish capital would be within the operational range of Putin’s forces.
There is no evidence that Russia is preparing such an attack, but NATO leaders are taking measures to deal with a possible future conflict.
The Kremlin claims that even the slower and older versions of the drones could reach the shores of the United Kingdom. However, any attempt to attack Britain from these bases would be very likely to face interception.
According to Ukrainian government documents published online, the latest Geran-4 and Geran-5 models are fast enough to evade air-defense systems and can carry payloads of up to 90 kg.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, has also warned that Russia is equipping Geran drones with air-to-air missiles aimed at striking aircraft defending Kyiv’s airspace.
Satellite photographs show a significant increase in capacity for high-tech drones. One of the bases has enough space to hold more than 1,000 drones at the same time.
Additional launch rails are also being built at some of the main locations, indicating Moscow’s intention to further expand its offensive drone capabilities.
According to The Telegraph, the bases are supplied by several munitions factories scattered throughout Russia. Among them is the Alabuga special economic zone, a Russian drone-production campus that produces 6,000 units a year.
Mike Monnik, chief executive and founder of DroneSec, who analyzed the satellite imagery, said that the Kremlin had “significantly expanded” its drone network with the aim of “attacking Ukraine and keeping NATO states at risk of such attacks.”
“The expansion of launch sites shows that Russia has increased its ability to launch a greater number of drones, while at the same time using technology that makes the new models more difficult to intercept. These two factors give Russia the ability to use an ever-increasing number of unmanned aerial systems against Ukraine and make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to neutralize the new Russian models,” he added.
A NATO official told The Telegraph that drones “have fundamentally changed the character of modern warfare and have become a decisive factor on the battlefield.” He stressed that the alliance “is rapidly expanding our ability to produce, operate and neutralize drones on a large scale.”
The investigation documents the rapid growth of Russia’s drone capabilities and raises concerns about Putin’s ambition to create new threats to NATO allies.
Open-source tracking data shows that seven of the 10 locations identified by The Telegraph have been used during some of Moscow’s most recent bombardments of Kyiv.
