Construction of airport in Donetsk, Russia, designed for use by individuals willing to carry out acts of mass destruction
In eastern Ukraine, the ruined infrastructure of Donetsk Airport is being reconstructed and converted into a strategic military drone base by Russian occupation forces, using Iranian drone technology. This transformation signifies a major escalation in the Russian drone campaign against Ukraine.
According to satellite imagery from July 2025, significant construction activity and preparations for drone deployment are underway at the airport. The runway has been partially restored and cleared of fortifications, with additional infrastructure such as enclosed storage for drones, manual control stations, warhead unloading zones, air observation posts, and parking areas being constructed.
The Russian forces occupying the territory are building this facility to launch Iranian-made strike drones, primarily Shahed and Gerbera types, targeting Ukrainian-controlled areas. Active drone launch activity has been reported from the region, with a sharp increase in drone attacks attributed to these platforms.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has taken a toll on civilians, with a woman reportedly injured in a Ukrainian drone strike in Voronezh, according to Russian reports. In the contested city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast, Russian troops are attempting to break through the city's defenses using a "total infiltration" tactic.
Amidst these challenges, Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has announced that further long-range attacks on Russian territory will continue. In a significant development, the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) killed five fighters of the Chechen Achmat unit in Russian-occupied Melitopol, along with the partisan movement.
The European Union (EU) has been supporting Ukraine with financial aid through the "Ukraine Facility," but the requirements for these tranches may be altered due to the ongoing war. As the conflict continues, expectant and young mothers in Ukraine are facing concerns, with fathers often away at the front.
In the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, a rocket hit a residential area, injuring several people and damaging several residential buildings. Russian forces launched 76 long-range drones and seven missiles against Ukraine overnight, with eight targets hit across the country. Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 60 of the drones and intercepted one missile.
The war in Ukraine has also impacted civilian infrastructure, with more than 120 firefighters battling a blaze in Sochi following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil depot. Explosions and smoke were observed at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, originating from a nearby auxiliary facility that was allegedly attacked.
Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously awarded journalist Viktoria Roshchyna the "Order of Freedom" in 2024, after she died in Russian captivity.
[1] Satellite imagery shows Donetsk Airport reconstruction for drone launch operations (Source: [Link to the source]) [2] Iranian-made drones used in Russian attacks on Ukraine (Source: [Link to the source]) [3] Increase in drone attacks attributed to Donetsk Airport facilities (Source: [Link to the source]) [4] Russian forces occupying Donetsk Airport, using Iranian drone technology (Source: [Link to the source])
- Despite the ongoing efforts to reconstruct Donetsk Airport and transform it into a strategic military drone base, the implementation of community policy and employment policy within the reconstruction zone may need to take into account the volatile political climate and the presence of war-and-conflicts in the region.
- General news outlets have reported an alarming increase in drone attacks from Donetsk Airport, with the majority of these attacks attributed to Iranian-made drones, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current employment and politics policies regarding the use of such technology in war-and-conflicts.
