Russia builds reinforced hangars 200 miles from border amid threats

Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure have led Russians to feel threatened even in locations hundreds of miles from the front line. To protect valuable equipment from drones or ballistic missiles, they are constructing reinforced positions for aircraft 200 miles from the border.

The non-governmental organization "Ukrainian Military Center" has reported details about Russian activities. Satellite images reveal that in Volgograd Oblast, at the Marynivka airfield, located 200 miles from the Ukrainian border, 12 new hangars have been erected to house Su-34 and Su-24 aircraft.

According to Ukrainian sources, the hastily constructed hangars are meant to ensure that Russian aircraft can survive in the event of an attack using ATACMS missiles. They are also intended to protect drones, which Ukrainians regularly use to target Russian airfields.

The Defense Portal analyzing this situation notes that the construction of hangars represents another step in Russian attempts to counter the threat posed by Ukrainian drones or, at shorter distances, missiles.

The problem for the Russian air force is the lack of heavy protective hangars capable of shielding aircraft not only from shrapnel but also from close-range explosions of greater force.

For this reason, Russians are taking rather desperate measures, such as painting aircraft shapes near runways. Another type of protection involves covering the aircraft with piles of tires, which are supposed to protect them from small drone attacks and partially safeguard against shrapnel.

Recent Ukrainian attacks aimed at targets deep within Russia show that Russian fears are not unfounded. While ATACMS or Storm Shadow missiles have a range limited to about 200 miles, Ukrainians, using drones, can attack targets at much greater distances. The current record is an attack on the over-the-horizon Voronezh-DM radar, located 1,100 miles from the front line.