Launch of Shahed drones from Donetsk Airport: Enemy activity and Ukrainian response

On the ruins of the destroyed Donetsk Airport, Russian forces are building new infrastructure to carry out attacks against Ukraine. Concrete storage buildings and launch pads for Shahed attack drones are being constructed. The enemy is trying to protect this equipment from Ukrainian strikes, but Ukrainian forces have the capability to target these enemy positions.

Dmytro Zhmailo, co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, shared this on the air of the national TV marathon.

Enemy activity at Donetsk Airport

The expert reveals the details of what the Russian occupiers are doing at Donetsk Airport.

“Right now, they [Russian troops] are not retrofitting the Donetsk airport. They are deploying all necessary infrastructure on its ruins to launch this type of aerial attack. They are building concrete storage facilities to protect themselves from airstrikes, including by our drones,” said Zhmailo.

How сan the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike Donetsk Airport?

He notes that the airport is 52 km from the front line and is within range of Ukraine’s ballistic weaponry.

According to him, Ukrainian forces possess effective systems capable of striking such targets. These include the long-range Neptune, a ground-based modification of the well-known anti-ship missile, which has already demonstrated successful strikes at distances up to 700 km. Also mentioned is the Hrim-2 operational-tactical missile system (export version: Sapsan), a high-precision system similar to Russia’s Iskander.

Zhmailo explains how the enemy is preparing for potential Ukrainian strikes.

“They’re preparing for this now. They’re trying to significantly increase the number of launch pads. With Donetsk airfield alone, they currently have 12 fixed sites. A single such airfield can launch around 60 drones in one attack. That’s why they’re also searching for more mobile launch platforms, launching "Shaheds" and decoy drones like "Geranium" from pickup truck beds and cargo trucks,” the expert noted.

He emphasizes that Russia aims to create constant psychological pressure on Ukrainians by provoking continuous air raid alerts.

According to Zhmailo, the new site at the airport is designed to store up to 200 "Shahed" drones armed with warheads.

“This poses a challenge for the Defense Forces. But certainly, given the proximity of this airfield, we can reach it,” he stressed.

Threat of "Shahed" launches from Donetsk Airport

If the occupiers succeed in fully launching this facility, the situation in Ukrainian frontline regions could deteriorate significantly. Drones are not only used against military targets but also to terrorize civilians. They are equipped with high-explosive, fragmentation, or incendiary warheads and are often directed at critical infrastructure.

Currently, Russia produces around 175 "Shahed"-type attack drones and decoys daily. For large-scale attacks, they must stockpile drones and simultaneously increase the number of launch positions.

“That’s why the Russians are also resorting to a new tactic — attaching anti-tank mines to "Shahed" wings, which have an explosive power of about three kilograms. They are also resuming missile production, although at a slow pace. Over this period, they’ve managed to stockpile an additional 2,000 units. This was made possible because China supplies them with the necessary technology, machinery, and equipment,” Zhmailo explains.

Although there are various means to combat "Shahed" drones, the analyst emphasizes that the greatest threat comes from the jet-powered drones, which require missile-based countermeasures for effective interception.