On 21 September, the Ukrainian Defence Forces struck a large complex used for the storage, preparation and launch of attack drones in the Tsymbulova area of the Oryol Region of the Russian Federation. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed damage to at least three storage facilities, a launch pad for rocket-powered UAVs and five launchers.
• The defence forces struck a drone base in the Tsymbulova area of the Oryol Region of the Russian Federation.
• At least three UAV storage facilities have been damaged.
• Fires have broken out on the site.
• The launch site for jet drones has been hit.
• The General Staff has confirmed that five launchers have been damaged.
The General Staff has confirmed the results of the strike
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on the results of the attack on the morning of 22 September. According to the military, the strike was carried out on 21 September against a target near the settlement of Cimbulova in the Oryol Region of Russia. Russian troops are using this complex to the storage, preparation and deployment of attack drones on the territory of Ukraine.
The General Staff has reported confirmed damage:
- at least three storage facilities for UAVs;
- a launch site for jet-powered drones;
- five launchers.
Fires were reported in the storage areas following the impacts.
Satellite images have revealed damage to bunkers and hangars
The effects of the strike were already visible in satellite images on 21 September.
OSINT analysts have recorded two hits on fortified bunkers. In one instance, the munition penetrated the building; in another, the explosion occurred on the surface. Traces of detonation, damaged hangars and the remains of destroyed drones were also visible at the site where they were being prepared for launch. The photographs identified the locations of Russian jet drones of the «Geranium».
Jet-powered «Gerani» missiles were stationed in Tsymbulova»
Droneport The complex near Tsymbulova is one of the largest Russian complexes of its kind.
According to OSINT analysts, the site housed attack drones from the «Geran» family, based on Iranian Shahed drones, as well as new jet-powered variants.
Prior to the strike, the following were recorded on the complex’s premises 16 launchers for «Geran-4» rocket systems» and «Geranium-5». In addition, concrete underground bunkers and new launch pads were being built at the site. Thus, if the five damaged launchers confirmed by the General Staff did indeed belong to this group, the strike affected a significant portion of the deployed launch infrastructure. At the same time, the exact condition of all the launchers following the attack has not been independently verified.
This is not the first attack on the drone port
The complex in Tsymbulova had already been targeted by the Defence Forces.
On 30 August, the General Staff confirmed that a storage facility for attack UAVs and one of the launchers in the area had been struck. Despite the previous attack, the facility retained its ability to carry out launches. Satellite imagery showed that the complex remained operational and that it still housed jet-powered drones.
The General Staff emphasises that strikes against such targets are systematic in nature and are aimed at a reduction in Russia’s ability to carry out attacks on Ukraine using strike drones.
Overnight, Russia once again launched hundreds of drones
The strike on the drone port took place on the eve of another large-scale Russian air attack. On the night of 21–22 September, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine 212 attack and other drones, in particular the Shahed and jet-powered UAVs. The Air Force cited one of the launch directions as Eagle. Russia also deployed ballistic, anti-ship and cruise missiles.
The air defence forces reported that 177 drones and nine other aerial targets had been destroyed or neutralised. Missile and strike drone strikes were recorded at 22 locations.
