Russia building protective structures at airbases following Operation Spiderweb – ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in a new report, according to Ukrinform.

Ukraine-based open-source intelligence organization Frontelligence Insight reported that satellite imagery collected on July 7 shows that Russian forces have constructed roughly 10 reinforced bunkers with soil coverings, 12 concrete bunker-type structures without soil coverings, and eight hangar-style buildings on the aprons at Khalino Air Base in the Kursk region. Planet Labs satellite imagery collected on June 27 of Khalino Air Base also shows reinforced hangars.

Additionally, Frontelligence reported that satellite imagery collected on July 9 shows that Russian forces have constructed two concrete bunker-style structures at Saky Air Base in occupied Crimea, and Planet Labs satellite imagery collected on July 7 also shows concrete aircraft shelters.

Frontelligence reported that satellite imagery collected on July 9 shows no construction efforts at Dzhankoi Air Base in occupied Crimea, however.

Frontelligence reported that recent satellite imagery shows bomber wreckage still present at Belaya Air Base in the region and Olenya Air Base in the Murmansk region – two of the air bases that Ukrainian forces struck during Operation Spiderweb.

ISW analysts conclude that Russia may be starting to construct protective structures at its air bases after three years of war in response to Operation Spiderweb.

On June 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a unique special operation that simultaneously struck four military airfields deep within Russia: Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya. These bases housed Russian strategic bombers regularly involved in missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The estimated value of the aircraft destroyed during the operation exceeds $7 billion.