Satellite images show Russia expanding drone base at Donetsk airport

New satellite images show Russia expanding a months-old drone base at the main airport in Donetsk, adding launch rails, storage bunkers, and construction work near one of the launch positions. The imagery was captured by the US spatial intelligence firm Vantor.

Conversion of the airport into a drone staging site began in summer 2025 with launch rails and storage sheds. An open-source investigator, Kyle Glen, who has tracked the site, said two new launch rails were added in recent weeks, bringing the total from six to eight, and two other rails were extended, possibly to support newer, heavier drone variants.

Small storage bunkers have appeared on the taxiway and construction equipment is visible near launch positions. The airport has been used more frequently in nightly drone and missile attacks. In 2025, drones launched from the Donetsk base on nine nights; in January and February of this year there were launches on nearly three dozen nights.

Ukraine, Donetsk

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