Russia has installed secret bases capable of launching powerful drones deep into NATO territory. An investigation by the British newspaper The Telegraph has uncovered 10 Kremlin bases housing newly built launch pads for Moscow's most advanced long-range suicide drones.
Some of the bases are already being used to strike Ukraine, aided by their proximity to the border. But they also pose a long-term threat to NATO allies, putting them within reach of Vladimir Putin's high-tech attack drones.
Analysts warn that the rapidly evolving technology could also turn against Europe in the event of a war, with some of the bases putting Russia's most powerful drones within range.
European and American intelligence officials believe Russia is considering an armed provocation on Polish soil, missile or drone strikes against critical infrastructure, or false flag attacks blamed on Ukraine.
A NATO official told The Telegraph newspaper that the military alliance was "ready to defend every inch of allied territory" and would continue to "increase readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones."
Using documents and satellite imagery, The Telegraph identified at least 59 new launch pads or mechanical guide rails used to launch fixed-wing drones in place of a traditional runway along Russia's border with Belarus and Ukraine.
Some of the drone hubs have been repurposed from military bases and civilian airports, while other launch pads have been carved into the countryside of Russia.
Images analyzed by DroneSec, a drone intelligence company, revealed that about 20 of the newly installed tracks appeared to have an extended length, indicating their ability to launch the Kremlin's latest long-range attack drones.
Moscow has been rapidly upgrading its version of the Iranian Shahed drone, fielding new high-speed variants of the aircraft capable of reaching targets almost 620 miles away. Deploying the new variants from the identified bases would put strikes against the Polish capital within Putin’s reach.
There is no evidence that Russia is planning such an attack, but NATO leaders are preparing for a future conflict.
The Kremlin claims that slower, more outdated variations of the drones could also reach the UK coast, but it is highly likely that any attempt to strike Britain from the bases would be intercepted.
According to the Telegraph newspaper, the bases are supplied by a number of munitions factories spread across the country, including the Alabuga special economic zone - a Russian drone-building campus that produces 6,000 units per year. ©LAPSI.al
