Satellite analysis has identified at least 10 Russian bases and 59 launch rails for long-range drones, some positioned close enough for modern systems to reach European countries.
Russia is creating a network of military sites along its borders with Belarus and Ukraine that could allow unmanned aircraft used in attacks on Ukraine to reach Nato territory, according to an investigation by The Telegraph. The findings, reported on 17 August 2026, are based on documents and satellite imagery, with additional details published by Liga.net.
The sites include launch facilities on military bases, converted drone-control centres at civilian airfields and new installations in rural areas. Some are located so that Russia’s latest drones could potentially fly as far as Warsaw, creating an additional security risk for Nato’s eastern flank even without a direct strike on an alliance member.
New infrastructure is being built for sustained attacks
Satellite images examined by the investigation show at least 59 new launch rails along the Russian border with Belarus and Ukraine. Around 20 of the rails are longer than earlier versions, which may indicate preparations for newer Russian drones capable of travelling and striking over greater distances.
Construction is continuing at several key facilities, with additional launch positions being added. The scale and distribution of the works point to a systematic expansion of the infrastructure needed to deploy long-range unmanned aircraft in large numbers, rather than a limited series of temporary sites.
Imagery also indicates a significant increase in the number of modern Russian drones at the new bases. Experts assessing one facility said it had enough space to store more than 1,000 drones at the same time. That capacity would support repeated and potentially mass attacks, allowing Moscow to build up stocks close to the areas from which the aircraft would be launched.
Mike Monnik, the founder of the satellite-analysis company DroneSec, confirmed that Moscow had substantially expanded its drone infrastructure. He said the network was being used for attacks on Ukraine while also creating a potential threat to Nato countries.
Faster systems would tighten the response window
The expansion comes as Russia improves the capabilities of its Geran attack drones, including the emergence of jet-powered variants. Faster systems with greater range and payloads would be more difficult to intercept, shortening the time available for detection and response.
For European air-defence forces, the challenge is not only the distance covered by individual drones but the prospect of more frequent and larger-scale attacks. The growth of storage and launch capacity could enable Russia to use long-range unmanned aircraft regularly, increasing pressure on systems protecting critical infrastructure across Europe.
That creates a potentially damaging operational and economic imbalance. Intercepting relatively inexpensive drones with costly defensive missiles can rapidly consume interceptor stocks and place additional strain on air-defence resources. As new drone types appear, Nato would also need to adapt its defences to different speeds, ranges and flight characteristics.
Nato’s assurances face a test of credibility
A Nato representative told The Telegraph that the alliance was ready to defend every inch of its allies’ territory and continued to strengthen its readiness to counter drone threats. But declarations of preparedness are not matched, in the assessment set out by the material, by a comparable practical reinforcement of air defences on Nato’s eastern flank or by providing Kyiv with the capabilities to strike Russian bases pre-emptively.
The absence of concrete action risks being interpreted in the Kremlin as weakness and may encourage further expansion of Russian basing for weapons capable of reaching European countries. The relevant measure of the danger is therefore not Moscow’s assurances that it has no intention of attacking, but the scale and location of the military infrastructure it is actually building.
The immediate issue is whether the alliance will respond to the new network before it becomes fully operational. The positioning of the bases widens the potential area of operations and gives Moscow the ability to keep European governments under sustained pressure without crossing the threshold of a direct attack on Nato territory.
Should Nato prioritise stronger air defences on its eastern flank, or focus on enabling Ukraine to strike the Russian launch infrastructure?
