When in February 2022 Putin's army entered Ukraine, Russian unmanneders were already in the Moscow Arsenal, although they still played mainly supporting roles. They helped to track Ukrainian forces, correct rocket fire and observe the changing front lines. The real turning point came in autumn. Then the Kremlin began to use drones-kkkadze on a massive scale. Among them was the Iranian Shaked-136, renamed by Russia to Gierań-2.
Shadza equipped with explosives began to attack Ukrainian critical infrastructure in swarms. Cheap in production, difficult to shoot down, forced Ukraine and its allies to use expensive air defense shells. Over time, the Kremlin began to improve its deadly effective weapon.
At the beginning of September 2025, Russia significantly increased the intensity of air attacks on Ukraine. The culmination was the night of 6 to 7 September, when a record wave of drones and rockets fell on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure facilities. According to data from the General Staff of Ukraine, on that day Russia used a total of about 823 objects – including over 800 drones. Air defense managed to neutralize 747–751 goals, which means effectiveness at a level close to 90 percent. Despite this, some machines broke through the defense systems. Several civilians were killed and several dozen were injured. The government building in the center of Kiev was also damaged.
In the first half of 2025, Moscow used about 16,000 against Ukraine. drones. This is almost twice as much as in the second half of 2024.
The American Institute of War Research says that Russia has significantly increased the national production of Shaked drones. The main place of production of these unmanned Alabuga Economic Zone in the Republic of Tatarstan is the main place of the unmanned economic zone. Recently, a new Shaked production line was launched at the Electromechanical Plant in Iżewsk, where Harpie drones were previously produced – Shadz analogues using Chinese components.
Network of “drone airports”
The Kremlin, Alby to effectively hurt goals in Ukraine, created a network of “drone airports” in the west of the country.
On the largest bases, such as Cymbulowo or Primorsko-Ochtarsk, there are permanent rail launchers. The drone is placed on a ramp resembling a rocket guide. The start takes place with the help of a support rocket, which falls off after a few seconds, and the drone continues the flight thanks to its own combustion engine. There are no permanent launchers in smaller bases, like Wylja. Instead, trucks and trailers with portable ramps are used.
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Cymbulowo, Orłowski region
One of the most important centers of drone firing is the village of Cymbulowo in the dehydration of Orłowski. It is located about 175 km from the border with Ukraine. Satellite photos show that it is a new facility, the construction of which began in the summer of 2024.
It includes eight stationary launchers and a 2.8-kilometer section of the road used for mobile starts from vehicles. It is estimated that at the same time you can launch up to 14 drones, and over 100 during one operation. Smaller garages for armed machines ready for starts are used for this.
CmberPlanet Labs
The facility also has 15 underground bunkers, whose total storage capacity can exceed 3,000 heads. One of them has already been hit with three missiles, which caused the destruction of over 200 drones.
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Another new base is located in the village of Wydlja in the Bryan region, about 70 km from the border with Ukraine. This object is smaller, but it has a similar structure to cymbulów.
HewliaPlanet Labs
It contains three bunkers capable of storing over 600 drone heads and three garages. There are no stationary launchers in Nawlicja – drones are launched from vehicles, which limits the possibility of shooting only a few drones at once. The facility may be expanded in the future.
3. Primorsko-Achatarsk, Krasnodarski country
The next object is the Primorsko-Akhtarsk Air base in the Russian Krasnodar country, located about 230 km from the front line. In addition to the existing airport infrastructure, three small sections were built specifically for Shaked drones. The base includes eight permanent launchers and enables mobile starts from aircraft starting belts. At the same time, you can shoot to 10 drones, and in each wave around 25.
Primorsko-AchatarskPlanet Labs
4. Szałatowo, Smolensk region
The Dnipro-Osint project announced that shock drones, which massively invaded Poland on the night of September 10, 2025, were launched from the Szałatowo military airport. It is this base that is closest to NATO borders today – it is only about 350 km from Latvia, 400 km from Lithuania and 570 km from Poland.
Russia has adapted the airport to the requirements of modern war. At least six systems for stationary firing of drones were installed there, which allow you to simultaneously carry out mass starts. In the period of August -September 2025, a large area of vegetation was also cleaned near the runway. The purpose of this work is not clear – however, it may indicate preparations for new buildings.
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For decades, this base was associated mainly from the 566th Transport Aviation Regiment, which operated on the huge aircraft by An-124 Ruslan. These machines transported soldiers, heavy equipment and armament all over Russia. However, since the start of the full-glass invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the base gained a new function: it became a starting point for drones-kkikadze.
SeastPlanet Labs
Sieszcza was in the center of attention in May 2023, when the Ukrainian forces conducted a drone attack on the base. One of the Russian An-124 was damaged.
6. Airport in Donetsk
At the beginning of August, the Institute of War Studies announced that Russia has been repairing the runway at the airport in Donetsk, occupied since 2015, to extend the use of offensive drones starting from territories controlled by Russia. Near the destroyed terminal, warehouses for drones, manual control stand, combat charging unloading zone, false positions, air observation points are created.
Airport in DonetskPlanet Labs
