Ukraine Says Russia Is Building Drone Launch Site Near Millerovo Airfield

Russia is constructing a new launch site for attack drones close to the Millerovo military airfield in Rostov Oblast, a region that borders temporarily occupied Luhansk Oblast. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU) reported the finding on Telegram, saying satellite imagery confirms that work is under way.

According to DIU, the layout of the facility points to a purpose of preparing and launching jet-powered attack drones, most likely the Geran-4 and Geran-5 and their modifications. "Early estimates suggest that, once construction is complete, the site will be capable of supporting up to 100 launches per day," the agency said.

DIU cautioned that the real tempo of operations will depend on several factors. These include the supply of finished drones, the availability of fuel and warheads, the number of trained crews, the condition of equipment, and the tasks assigned to the site.

The pace of the build has been notable. In late August, DIU saw no visible signs of active construction at the location. By mid-October, Russian forces had already set up launch positions and other infrastructure. The agency attributed the speed to the reuse of previously tested technical solutions and a concentration of resources on relatively simple launch infrastructure.

The location also carries defensive implications. The site lies just 3.5 km from Millerovo airfield, which DIU said suggests Russia intends to rely on the same air defence systems that protect the airfield. The agency added that the new facility could draw on the airfield's existing road, communications and logistics networks, along with its technical support systems.

Russia is also upgrading the drones themselves. A new version of the Geran-4 has received additional autonomous navigation features, including an optical terrain-matching system, and a similar system is being integrated into the K5 version of the Geran-5. DIU further said the Geran-4 now carries a domestically produced jet engine and a new warhead intended to strike bridges and electricity transmission towers.

The Geran-4 has a range of up to 770 km, while the Geran-5 can fly up to 950 km.

The Millerovo site will add to Russia's network of attack drone launch locations, which DIU says already includes at least 12 permanent facilities. The agency believes the new site may be part of preparations to step up attacks on Ukraine, particularly during the winter.

Ukrainska Pravda had earlier reported, citing the Ukrainian OSINT community Absolutely Reliable Source, that Russia was building the facility. That group said that as of 12 October the site had eight positions for launchers and 32 areas for preparing drones for launch.