Russia builds first naval drone port at Lake Donuzlav near Novoozerne

More recently, new satellite imagery suggests that the Russian Navy is building its first naval drone port on the shore of Lake Donuzlav, close to Novoozerne. The images examined indicate that it would be Russia’s first naval facility for launching and storing uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), “whose layout bears some resemblance to the ports used to launch Shahed drones”, according to Defence Express.

Facilities identified on the shore of Lake Donuzlav

Descriptions accompanying the images state that the underground shelters found along Lake Donuzlav’s shore are protected by sand embankments on either side and concealed beneath camouflage nets. Dirt tracks lead to each structure, allowing USVs to be transported. “It is likely that other infrastructure supporting the drone port is located near these hideouts. Specifically, this includes warehouses, workshops for maintaining and preparing drones for maritime operations, antenna systems for communications and other facilities”, the outlet added.

According to an assessment by OSINT analyst HI Sutton, who was cited in the report, the new satellite imagery identifies 21 shelters on the shore of Lake Donuzlav. He also noted that construction of these shelters began in February 2026, “which means that the drone port could already be operational”, the outlet reported.

Naval drone use in the Black Sea region

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have carried out several attacks on Russian Navy vessels in the regional theatre using naval drones. In January 2024, the Russian missile corvette “Ivanovets” was destroyed following attacks by naval drones fitted with explosive charges. In a statement issued after the strike, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate explained: “[…] The enemy ship was stationed at Lake Donuzlav in temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result of multiple direct hits to the hull of the Russian vessel, it sustained damage incompatible with further navigation: the Ivanovets listed aft and sank”.

Uncrewed systems in the Russia-Ukraine war

As uncrewed systems have become an established battlefield paradigm, both the Ukrainian and Russian armed forces have specialised branches dedicated to drone warfare. In mid-November 2025, Russia announced the formation of its Uncrewed Systems Forces (USF) to “centralise the production, operation, testing and doctrine for the employment of uncrewed systems”, replicating Ukraine’s USF model, which was established in early 2024. At the same time, as previously reported, Russia will introduce a compulsory basic course on uncrewed systems at more than 100 transport universities and higher-education training centres across the country.

Russia’s expanding maritime deployment capacity

By constructing this new USV drone port, Russia would expand its ability to deploy military assets in the region from the maritime domain. Meanwhile, in the air domain, Russia would continue using Shahed drones in border areas while retaining Geran-4 platforms and Banderol cruise missiles for strikes on Ukrainian cities in the rear, according to Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s president.