Ukraine's military intelligence agency says Russia is developing a new facility for preparing and launching attack drones near the Millerovo military airfield in Rostov Oblast, close to the border with Ukraine. The assessment is based on satellite imagery cited by the agency on October 28.
The facility is located about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) from Millerovo airfield, in the village of Dolotinka. HUR said the site's layout indicates that it is intended for jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones and their variants. Once construction is complete, the agency estimates that the site could support as many as 100 launches per day.
A rapid build-out near an existing airfield
HUR said there were no significant signs of active construction at the location in late August 2026. By mid-October, launch positions and other supporting infrastructure had been established. The agency attributed the pace, in part, to the use of technical solutions that had already been developed and to the relatively simple infrastructure required for the site.
“The construction of the facility in the Rostov Region may be part of Russia's preparations to intensify its attacks on Ukrainian territory, particularly during the winter.”
HUR said the facility's proximity to Millerovo airfield could allow it to draw on the airfield's existing support structure. That may include the air-defense systems deployed to protect the airfield, along with roads, utilities, logistics infrastructure and technical-support facilities. Those are assessments by Ukraine's intelligence agency; the extracted reporting did not include an independent confirmation from Russian authorities.
The projected launch figure is a capacity estimate rather than a forecast of daily operations. HUR said the actual tempo would depend on several practical constraints:
- the supply of ready-made drones;
- the availability of fuel and warheads;
- the number of trained crews; and
- equipment readiness and the missions assigned by Russia.
Part of a wider launch network
HUR said the Millerovo facility would add to a Russian network that already includes at least 12 permanent drone-launch sites. The agency also reported that Russia is upgrading its jet-powered drones, including additional autonomous-navigation systems and a new warhead for the Geran-4 that it says is intended to target bridges and power-transmission towers.
Those modernization claims, like the assessment of the new facility's purpose and projected capacity, come from Ukraine's military intelligence agency. HUR said the construction and the reported upgrades could support a higher tempo of attacks on Ukrainian territory, particularly during the winter. The report describes a developing military infrastructure project rather than a confirmed operating schedule.
| Item | Details reported by HUR |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Millerovo military airfield, Rostov Oblast |
| Distance from airfield | Approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) |
| Intended aircraft | Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones and variants |
| Estimated capacity | Up to 100 launches per day once complete |
| Construction status | Launch positions and supporting infrastructure established by mid-October |
