Russian forces establish Shahed drone launch site at ruined Donetsk airport, report says

Russian forces have converted the ruined Donetsk International Airport into a launch base for Shahed attack drones, according to an investigation by Радіо Свобода.

Located less than 50 kilometers from the front line, the facility is the closest known Shahed launch site to active combat zones. The extreme proximity leaves Ukrainian air defense forces with a critical shortage of time to detect and intercept incoming unmanned aerial vehicles before they enter frontline areas and neighboring regions.

Occupational authorities in the Donetsk region had previously promised to reconstruct the airport into a civilian transport hub, but satellite imagery and reporting indicate it is currently serving military operational needs instead.

Sources: Радіо Свобода.