Russians start building shelters at occupied Belbek airfield

21 December, 2024 Satellite image of the construction of airplane shelters at the Belbek airfield. Photo credits: TWZ/PLANET LABS INC Russian invaders have begun building shelters on the territory of the seized Belbek airfield, located in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

This was reported by The War Zone with reference to satellite images. According to the publication, new protective structures are being built using reinforced concrete structures that provide much better protection of aircraft from large fragments and close explosions. The satellite images show that 10 shelters are at different stages of construction.

The construction of airplane shelters at the Belbek airfield.

Photo credits: TWZ/PLANET LABS INC

In addition to fortified individual aircraft shelters, satellite imagery has also revealed the construction of less protected lightweight shelters. These structures are created using traditional frame structures and are located at group parking lots where combat aircraft are usually prepared for takeoff and weapons are hung. It is worth noting that the construction of shelters at the Belbek airfield is strategically important for the Russians, as this facility is within range of most of the strike assets of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and has been repeatedly targeted.

In addition to Belbek, the construction of protective hangars has also begun at the Krymsk airfield. The fighter and interceptor aircraft of the Russian Air Force, including Su-27P and Su-30 aircraft, are based there.

The construction of airplane shelters at the Belbek airfield. Photo credits: TWZ/PLANET LABS INC

Currently, the construction of aviation shelters continues at the airfields in Kursk, Akhtubinsk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Yeysk, Morozovsk, Millerovo, and Krymsk.

Now, the seized Belbek airfield in the temporarily occupied Crimea has been added to this list. Earlier, Militarnyi reported that Russians had begun to build airfield hangars to protect aircraft from attack drones and missiles with cluster warheads. The construction of new hangars was spotted on satellite images at the Marinovka airfield, which is located in the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation, 300 km from the border with Ukraine.

The image shows 12 new hangars that provide shelter for Su-24 frontline bombers and Su-34 fighter-bombers.

Protective hangars for aviation at Marinovka air base in the Volgograd region. Photo credits: Google

According to the Russians, the construction of airfield hangars should protect aircraft from attack drones, as well as from submunitions of the ATACMS ballistic missile. It should also be noted that the use of the hangars will not allow satellites and other optical detection devices to find out whether the hangar is empty or an aircraft is parked there.

It is not yet known what materials the hangars are made of, but judging by their appearance, they are likely to have minimal protection against debris.

Previously, shelters with profiled sheets have been installed on the territory of the Russian Federation to protect aircraft.