Russia has reportedly established or expanded at least 10 secret drone bases near its borders with Belarus and Ukraine, with the new infrastructure potentially allowing advanced long-range attack drones to reach parts of NATO territory, according to an investigation by The Telegraph. (Telegraph)

The investigation, based on satellite imagery, leaked documents and analysis by drone intelligence company DroneSec, identified at least 59 newly constructed launch rails across the sites. Around 20 of these rails are reportedly longer designs that could accommodate Russia's newer long-range, jet-powered drones. (Censor.NET)

59 New Launch Rails Identified

The reported facilities are located along Russia's western borders with Belarus and Ukraine. Some have been established at former military bases or airfields, while others are located in more remote areas.

According to the satellite-image analysis, around 20 launch rails appear to have an extended design. Analysts say their dimensions could indicate that they are intended for newer long-range unmanned aircraft rather than smaller drones.

The development points to an expansion of Russia's infrastructure for launching large numbers of drones against Ukraine.

NATO Countries Within Potential Range

The location of the reported bases has raised concerns because Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, all NATO members. Ukraine also borders NATO countries including Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

Some analysts believe Russia's newest long-range drones could potentially reach Warsaw. However, there is currently no evidence that Russia is preparing a direct attack on Poland, according to reporting surrounding the investigation. (Censor.NET)

The potential range of these systems has nevertheless added to concerns among European governments over the possibility of drones being used beyond the current battlefield in Ukraine.

Bases Could Store Thousands of Drones

The reported expansion is not limited to launch infrastructure. Satellite imagery indicates that some facilities have significant storage capacity.

One of the sites reportedly has enough space to accommodate more than 1,000 drones at a time, highlighting the potential scale of Russia's drone operations.

The expansion comes as Moscow has increasingly relied on unmanned aircraft alongside missiles in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Russia Expands Jet-Powered Drone Use

Russia has increasingly developed and deployed faster, longer-range variants of drones based on the Iranian-designed Shahed platform.

Recent reports have pointed to a growing use of jet-powered attack drones, which are harder to intercept because of their higher speed. Ukrainian officials and analysts have also reported a sharp increase in the number of such drones being used in Russian attacks. (Межа. Новини України.)

The construction of additional launch facilities could allow Russia to increase the number of drones deployed during individual attacks while reducing dependence on a smaller number of known launch locations.

Drone Network Raises European Security Concerns

DroneSec founder Mike Monnik said the expansion demonstrated how Russia was increasing its ability to launch larger numbers of unmanned aircraft while making some newer drone designs more difficult to intercept.

The development is being watched closely in Europe because of wider concerns over Russia's military and hybrid activities. Western intelligence assessments have previously warned about the possibility of sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of pressure against European countries.

At the same time, NATO has repeatedly maintained that it is prepared to defend all member states and has been strengthening its counter-drone capabilities.

Ukraine Remains Primary Battlefield

Despite concerns about their potential range into NATO territory, the newly identified bases are currently primarily associated with Russia's war against Ukraine.

Reports indicate that several of the sites have already been used to support attacks against Ukrainian targets. The growing network would allow Russia to launch drones from multiple locations, potentially making Ukrainian air-defence planning more difficult. (RBC Ukraine)

The reported construction therefore represents not only a potential challenge for NATO but also another sign of how drone warfare is evolving in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

For European governments, the expansion has added urgency to efforts to improve early-warning systems, air defence and counter-drone technology as Russia continues to develop longer-range unmanned weapons.