Russia Constructed Secret Network of Bases for Deep Drone Strikes on NATO

Moscow has established a covert network of military launch installations along its western frontiers, positioning advanced, high-powered unmanned aircraft capable of executing deep strikes across NATO territory.

An investigation by The Telegraph into satellite imagery and leaked documentation indicates that Russian forces have constructed launch facilities across 10 distinct locations, carving pads out of rural terrain while repurposing active military compounds and commercial airfields.

The development signals a broader Kremlin push to institutionalize deep-strike infrastructure capable of targeting European capitals during a wider military confrontation.

Expanding the Launch Footprint

Surveillance data has revealed at least 59 specialized mechanical launch rails installed across Russian territory bordering Ukraine and Belarus.

Roughly 20 of these newly constructed tracks feature extended dimensions designed specifically to accommodate Moscow’s newest generation of long-range, fixed-wing attack drones.

According to Mike Monnik, founder and chief executive of drone intelligence firm DroneSec, the Kremlin has "significantly expanded" its launch perimeter to "attack Ukraine and to hold NATO states at risk of such attacks."

"This launch site expansion shows how Russia has expanded its ability to launch greater numbers of drones while at the same time using technology to make the types of drones used more difficult to intercept," Monnik noted.

Storage capacity across the network is extensive, with a single facility maintaining the infrastructure required to house over 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles at once.

Across European Borders

The operational range of Moscow’s upgraded arsenal places allied infrastructure under direct threat.

Upgraded jet-propelled variants modeled on the Iranian Shahed platform possess a striking radius of nearly 620 miles, sufficient to reach Warsaw from frontline border sites.

Leaked Ukrainian government records detail advanced Geran-4 and Geran-5 variants carrying 90kg explosive payloads at speeds designed to bypass conventional air defenses.

Kyiv’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, has further noted attempts to arm these platforms with air-to-air munitions.

Western intelligence assessments indicate the Kremlin may leverage these capabilities for armed provocations on Polish territory, precision strikes against critical European infrastructure, or false-flag operations.

Munitions for the bases flow directly from domestic defense industrial clusters, including the Alabuga special economic zone, which manufactures 6,000 airframes annually.

Western Defense Response

While existing tracking shows seven of the identified installations have actively supported recent bombardment operations against Kyiv, allied planners view the permanent footprint as an enduring regional challenge.

In response to the growing perimeter threat, a NATO official stated that the alliance is "ready to defend every inch of allied territory" and will "enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones."

"Drones have fundamentally altered the character of modern warfare and have become a decisive factor on the battlefield," the official added. "We are rapidly expanding our ability to produce, operate, and neutralize drones at scale."