Russia Expands Tsimbulova Droneport With New Garages, Underground Shelters and Launch Sites

Russia continues to actively expand and fortify the Tsimbulova droneport in the Oryol region for large-scale launches of strike UAVs.

This is evidenced by satellite imagery dated September 29 and published by the Strategic Aviation Telegram channel.

A new area with eight dome-shaped shelters for jet-powered drones and an additional launcher has appeared southeast of the launch sites.

Paved areas have also been prepared nearby for the installation of eight more shelters and two launch systems.

Russian forces have completed six garages for strike UAVs, construction of which began in early September.

Construction of another 14 garages has been recorded along the access road to the droneport.

Ground shelters for equipment have been converted into underground facilities, significantly increasing their protection against direct hits by Ukrainian UAVs.

Near the Geran-5 launch sites, areas have been prepared for six additional launchers, while towers for anti-drone nets and communications equipment are being built. The expansion of the facility has already affected the attacks: the share of Geran-5 UAVs used in a strike on Kyiv increased from 10% to 75% over the past month.

Russian forces are preparing to expand the droneport further. In the northeastern part of the facility, construction equipment is preparing an area for new storage facilities. The construction of covered structures has reduced the number of UAVs stored in the open from nearly 100 to about 10.

Despite the construction work, the Defense Forces of Ukraine regularly strike the facility.

On the night of August 30, the Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes on storage and launch facilities for Russian strike UAVs at the Tsimbulova droneport. One of the Geran UAV launchers was hit. In addition to the launch position, a UAV storage site was also struck, where signs of a fire were recorded.

Later, Ukrainian drones hit bunkers and hangars at the droneport. Some of the drones penetrated the shelters, causing detonations and damage to the structures, while fragments of destroyed UAVs were found at a launch preparation site.