According to Western intelligence reports, Russia’s fortified aircraft hangars now have dome-shaped rooftops and thick blast doors to contain explosions.
After a spate of high-profile and deadly attacks, the Russian military is working hard to limit the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones.
At the same time, however, Ukraine is getting tens of thousands of unmanned aerial systems from its Western partners as the war in Ukraine turns increasingly to remote means.
Drones Are Now the Main Weapon of the Ukraine War
Following Ukraine’s recent drone strikes deep inside Russia, Russian forces have devoted tremendous resources to addressing the Ukrainian drone menace.
In response to Kyiv’s attacks—notably “Operation Spiderweb” in June, which destroyed and damaged dozens of long-range Russian bomber aircraft far from the front lines—Moscow commenced a program designed to protect air bases and key aircraft close to the Russo-Ukrainian border. The Russian military is fortifying air bases, including Millerovo, Kursk Vostochny, and Hvardiiske, with hardened hangars and shelters. According to Western intelligence reports, Russia’s fortified aircraft hangars now have dome-shaped rooftops and thick blast doors to contain explosions. Some are also covered with earth for an additional layer of protection.
“The construction of these hardened aircraft shelters provides a layer of protection to aircraft deployed to Russian airbases against future Ukrainian OWA UAS [One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial System] strikes,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in a recent update on the drone war in Ukraine.
Such fortifications, however, do not necessarily mean that drones will not be effective against these air bases. The value of the drone is more in its small size and flexibility rather than in its explosive capabilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles have been deadly effective because they can be piloted with pinpoint accuracy. Numerous videos show Ukrainian drone operators wiggling small drones into Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers, command and control centers, and even trench bunkers. Once inside, the drones can wreak havoc.
Russia is also trying other means to stop Ukraine’s drone armada, which only gets larger as time passes.
Britain Will Give Ukraine 100,000 Drones in 2025 Alone
Kyiv’s international partners have been providing the Ukrainian military and intelligence services with tens of thousands of unmanned aerial systems of all types and sizes. The United Kingdom, for example, delivered 50,000 drones only in the last six months.
This delivery was in addition to approximately 20,000 drones provided to Ukraine in the same timeframe by the UK-Latvia co-led drone coalition. The coalition has been working closely with the industry to speed up procurement and delivery of unmanned aerial systems to the Ukrainian units on the frontlines.
Overall, the UK government has committed about $465 million (£350 million) in 2025 to deliver 100,000 unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine. This would be a ten-fold increase from the 10,000 drones London furnished Ukraine with in 2024. The astronomical increase showcases the increased emphasis of militaries on drone warfare.
Before the full-scale invasion in Ukraine started, state and non-state actors were using drones with increased frequency and for a wider set of missions. Since the war began, however, drones have become a mainstay of modern conflict.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / Maria Taran.
