Russia is retrofitting Donetsk Airport to launch drones
Russian occupiers are actively modernizing and expanding the infrastructure at Donetsk Airport, adapting it for the launch and storage of “Geran” and “Gerbera” attack drones.
According to analysts, as of June 29, the size of standard launchers at the airport had been increased, which will likely allow for the use of “Geran-3” drones.
In addition, construction of several new access roads to the warehouses where the “Geran” and “Gerbera” drones are stored was completed in June.
Also, at the end of June, construction likely began on another warehouse in the central part of the airfield.
Until 2024, Donetsk Airport was effectively located near the front line, which prevented the occupying forces from carrying out large-scale work. However, following the advance of Russian forces, the front line shifted, and as early as 2025, the Russians began actively converting the facility to support the launch of attack drones.
The modernization of the airport allows Russia to shorten the flight distance of Shahed-type drones to territories controlled by Ukraine, which could increase the effectiveness of airstrikes.
According to analysts, the occupiers dismantled some of the old defensive structures and set up fuel storage areas, new warehouses, and shelters for drones.
As of June 2, more than 130 garages for storing attack drones, concrete warehouses for UAVs, and four stationary launchers had already been set up on the airfield’s grounds.
This is evidenced by an analysis of satellite imagery.
As a reminder, on the morning of April 22, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces struck Russian FSB facilities in the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk. The unit’s command post and rear base were destroyed.
