Russia has built and expanded at least 10 military bases along its borders with Ukraine and Belarus, designed to launch large numbers of new jet-powered drones in an effort to systematically exhaust and break through Ukrainian air defences.

Axar.az reports, citing Ukrainska Pravda, that The Telegraph conducted an investigation based on satellite imagery, leaked documents and data from the DroneSec intelligence company.

Journalists and military analysts identified 59 mechanical launch rails along the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders. These rail catapults replace runways and allow heavy fixed-wing drones to be launched rapidly from locations close to the line of contact.

At least 20 of these launch rails have an extended design. Experts say they are intended to launch new high-speed jet-powered variants of long-range drones.

Some of the hubs were created by converting existing military bases and civilian airports, while other sites were built from scratch in rural areas.