Russia builds 33 air defence sites around Alabuga drone plant
At least 33 air defence positions have been set up since spring 2026 around the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, where Russia produces Geran strike drones, according to the Russian service of Radio Svoboda.
What the satellite images show
Journalists analysed satellite images from 21 October. Around the main production site they found new concrete towers and podiums for Pantsir, Tor and other air defence systems. Towers for large-calibre anti-aircraft machine guns have also been installed on the territory, along with structures for stretching anti-drone nets over workshops.
"The Alabuga special economic zone remains one of the best protected sites against drone strikes in Russia, along with Vladimir Putin's residence in Valdai (31 towers and two S-300/400 missile positions). In the capital and Moscow region, more than 100 new air defence positions have been built since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine," the report says.
The journalists also published an interactive map of air defence positions around Alabuga.
Underground workshops
As air defence around Alabuga is strengthened, drone production capacity there continues to expand and underground workshops are being built. According to an estimate by the Dnipro Osint project based on satellite images, the area of underground premises under construction has reached 42,000 square metres. At the end of August, images also showed construction of at least 10 new workshops and dozens of warehouses.
Background
Alabuga is Russia's largest site for producing drones used in strikes on Ukraine. Ukraine's forces first attacked the complex in April 2024, when one drone hit a dormitory of the Alabuga Polytech college and 13 people were injured. Students of that college, including minors, are involved in assembling drones. The last known attack on Alabuga with recorded damage took place in June 2025.
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