Russia is actively expanding its network of specialised «drone ports» for launching «Geran» series jet-powered strike drones in the Oryol Region. According to satellite data, a large-scale base is under construction near the abandoned village of Tsymbulova, comprising 11 launch pads and 29 storage facilities capable of holding up to 750 UAVs. Ukrainian intelligence points to the Russian Federation’s strategic objective of reaching a thousand drone launches per day.
Briefly about the main points
- Russia is building a drone port near the village of Tsymbulova in the Oryol Region.
- Eleven launchers for the «Geran» jet-powered UAVs have been installed.
- Twenty-nine storage facilities are being built to house up to 750 drones.
- Russia plans to launch up to 1,000 drones every day.
- Jet-powered drones have performance characteristics similar to those of cruise missiles.
Expansion of drone ports in the Oryol Region
The latest satellite images indicate that Russia is actively expanding its infrastructure for launching jet-powered drones in the Oryol Region. Analysts are paying particular attention to a base near the abandoned village of Tsymbulova, situated 160 km from the Ukrainian border.
This base is equipped with 11 fixed launchers with extended launch rails 85 metres long, enabling the launch of the latest models of UAVs from the «Geranium». At the same time, work is underway to prepare a further five launch sites.
Technical specifications and logistics of the base
Jet-powered UAVs, such as the «Geran-4» and «Geran-5», require special, extended launch rails, which differ from the standard designs used for conventional drones. The length of the launch rails at Tsymbulova is three times that of conventional models.
In addition to the launch facilities, 29 new storage facilities are being built at the site. This will enable up to 750 drones to be stored at any one time, significantly increasing operational autonomy and the speed of launches.
Russia’s production plans for 2026
The development of drone ports is part of a broader strategy to reorient the Russian military-industrial complex towards mass manufacture of unmanned systems. In 2026, the Russian Federation plans to cut spending on missiles and increase drone production.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia’s strategic objective is to reach a rate of 1,000 drone launches per day. Plans for 2026 envisage the production of over 7.3 million FPV drones and millions of combat components for them.
The technological evolution of jet-powered UAVs
Jet-powered drones «The »Geran-5’ has performance characteristics similar to those of cruise missiles. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 600 km/h and covering distances of up to 950 km.
Thanks to navigation systems such as the «Kometa-M12», these UAVs have enhanced protection against electronic warfare, making them more difficult for air defence systems to intercept.
Important to know
The establishment of large-scale drone bases near the border with Ukraine enables Russia to reduce the time it takes for drones to reach their targets and to increase the intensity of its attacks. Stockpiling large numbers of drones near launch sites enables wave-like attacks, which complicates the work of Ukrainian air defence and facilitates a war of attrition.
