Crimea Drone Infrastructure: Over 20 New Shelters Built at Hvardiiske

More than 20 new earthen shelters have appeared at the Hvardiiske airbase in occupied Crimea, according to satellite images released by OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint. The visual data, posted by the account Harbuz, shows a major expansion of infrastructure designed to store and service Geran-type strike drones.

The imagery captures a complex of defensive structures built to protect the unmanned aerial vehicles from detection and strike. In addition to the larger shelters, the photos show approximately 40 smaller garage-like units. These smaller structures are intended for the daily preparation and maintenance of the drones before they are loaded onto launch platforms.

The new construction sits alongside visible evidence of prior Ukrainian attacks on the facility. The analyst pointed to damage on at least one hangar, which they attributed to a UAV strike. This damage is consistent with a series of recent operations targeting the base, including a reported hit on storage and launch sites on September 1.

Previous Ukrainian strikes on the Hvardiiske airbase have occurred with increasing frequency this year. On August 17, forces attacked a similar facility at the site. Earlier in August, satellite data confirmed damage to Geran hangars following strikes. In July, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that two hangars holding Shahed drones and aviation equipment were struck.

The operational design of the base relies on mobility rather than fixed infrastructure for launch sequences. Drones are not launched from stationary pads but are instead loaded onto specially equipped vehicles. These mobile platforms drive onto the runway to initiate the launch, a tactic intended to reduce the time the drones are exposed to enemy targeting.