Ukrainian Drones Reach Arkhangelsk Region, Where Russia Launches Rassvet Satellites and ICBMs

Ukrainian drones reached Russia’s Arkhangelsk region, where the Plesetsk Cosmodrome is located.

The cosmodrome is used by Russia to launch Rassvet-series satellites, as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The Russian monitoring channel Locator Russia reported that at least two drones reached the area of Plesetsk.

Temporary flight restrictions, known as the “Carpet Plan,” were also introduced at the airfield near the Plesetsk Cosmodrome due to a potential threat.

Local residents filmed two drones flying overhead on their mobile phones. The video was published by the Supernova+ Telegram channel.

This is the first reported case of Ukrainian UAVs reaching Arkhangelsk Oblast. The targets and consequences remain unknown, although local residents reported seeing smoke.

Back in April, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov said that attempts had been made to attack the Plesetsk Cosmodrome with drones during satellite launches.

The Plesetsk Cosmodrome is Russia’s main northern military spaceport.

In 2026, Russia has already conducted several successful launches of Soyuz-2 and Angara rockets carrying military satellites and batches of Rassvet communications satellites from the site. Another military launch was planned for August.

For Ukraine, striking the cosmodrome would be significant because Russia plans to place 292 Rassvet communications satellites into orbit by the end of 2027. The satellites are intended to become Russia’s counterpart to the Starlink system.

Missile Launches From the Cosmodrome

Russian forces also regularly launch intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

On August 21, 2026, Russia announced the temporary closure of several maritime areas off the coast of Arkhangelsk Oblast on August 26-27 due to missile launches.

The announcement did not specify the type of missile, launch site or target.

One of the most likely facilities associated with the restrictions is the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, which is used not only for space launches but also for testing strategic missiles.

Yars mobile ground-based missile system with an intercontinental ballistic missile during an exercise. October 2024. Russia. Still from Russia’s Defense Ministry video

At the same time, these warnings do not prove that a launch will take place specifically from Plesetsk: similar restricted areas may be established during Northern Fleet exercises in the White and Barents seas.

For comparison, on May 12, 2026, Russia conducted a test launch of a Sarmat ICBM from Plesetsk toward the Kura test range in Kamchatka. On June 3, the Northern Fleet’s Arkhangelsk submarine launched an Oniks anti-ship missile in the Barents Sea.

Thus, the closure of the areas on August 26-27 indicates planned missile launches, but there is currently no basis to state conclusively that they involve an ICBM launch from Plesetsk.