Ukraine Fires Over 500 Drones at Russia as Moscow Rushes New Geran‑5 Launch Site Near Millerovo
Ukrainian sources report more than 500 drones launched into Russia and occupied territory after a brief lull, while satellite imagery points to a new Russian Geran‑5 drone base near Millerovo built in about a month, with launch and preparation sites already in place.
Ukraine and Russia are both expanding their long‑range drone campaigns, with reports of a massive Ukrainian launch into Russian airspace arriving just as Moscow completes a new Geran‑5 site near Millerovo.
Ukrainian channels reported that, after two days of minimal use of long‑range drones, Ukrainian forces have launched more than 500 drones over Russian and Russian‑occupied territory. Another report described the action as a new massive drone attack targeting Russia. The available information does not specify where those drones were aimed or what damage they caused.
On the Russian side, satellite imagery from 12 October reportedly shows drones already being unloaded at a new launch site near Millerovo. Analysts cited in the reporting say the area was an empty field on 1 September, and that in roughly a month the first part of the facility neared completion, with eight prepared launcher positions and 32 sites for preparing UAVs before launch.
Those details point to a growing capacity for systematic, high‑volume drone use. A dedicated base with multiple launcher and preparation points gives Russian forces more options for sending Geran‑5 drones toward Ukrainian territory, including cities and infrastructure well behind the front.
The duelling developments suggest both countries see long‑range drones as central to how the war will evolve beyond trench lines. Ukraine has used drones to reach into Russian and Russian‑occupied areas, while Russia is building purpose‑designed infrastructure to support its own unmanned strikes.
What will show how far this phase goes are concrete outcomes: whether Russian air defences can meaningfully blunt the reported 500‑plus Ukrainian drones, whether Ukraine tries to hit the Millerovo complex itself, and whether similar launch sites appear elsewhere in Russia as the war’s drone front continues to widen.
Sources
- OSINT