Secret Russian airfield accidentally exposed on TV by state media
Russian state media has accidentally given away the location of a crucial military secret in a live broadcast that was pounced on by analysts.
Russian state media has accidentally given away the location of an airfield being used to fly modified trainer planes designed to shoot down Ukrainian drones.
On October 15, Defense Express reported that the blunder came after Kremlin broadcasters praised what they called an “innovative” use of an old Soviet-era training plane.
But as it turns out, the idea was not original. It was copied from tactics first used by Ukraine.
The plane shown, a Yak-52 with the serial number RA-1874G, is linked to a Russian special unit known as “Bars-Sarmat.” Because of details visible in the footage, investigators were able to figure out exactly where the aircraft was stationed.
The site was identified as the “Korsak” airfield, a small private strip near the village of Pryazovske situated about 20 kilometres southeast of occupied Melitopol.
It is roughly 80 kilometres from the front lines where battle continues to rage.
Satellite images revealed the airfield was recently resurfaced between August 30 and September 7, pointing to ongoing use by Russian forces.
Eagle-eyed analysts matched the airfield’s layout, including a narrow side road joining the runway at an angle and a small hangar with a tiled path, to the broadcast images.
The dark, newly paved surface also aligned with satellite photos taken in 2020 and 2025.
By proudly showing off these “innovations,” Russian state media ended up revealing valuable information about where the planes are based and how they are being used near the battlefield.
The Wall Street Journal has previously reported that Ukraine’s 11th Army Aviation Brigade adapted Yak-52 trainers to counter Russian drones. Crews flying these planes have tracked and shot down reconnaissance and Shahed-type drones using small arms fire, bringing back tactics reminiscent of World War I dogfights as a cheaper backup to modern air defence.
It comes as NATO and the EU seek for ways to boost anti-drone defences, as Europe scrambles to counter the threat from Russia after a series of air incursions.
High-profile incidents in Poland and Estonia have set off a flurry of activity from European officials to plug gaps in the continent’s defences.
NATO has launched a new mission and beefed up forces on its eastern border, but it is playing catch-up as it tries to tap Ukraine’s experience and get to grips with the drone threat from Moscow.
Alliance head Mark Rutte said NATO was now “testing integrated systems that will help us detect, track and neutralise aerial threats” for use on its eastern flank.
The push from the military alliance comes as the European Union is itself debating creating a “drone wall” to try to tackle the menace.
The EU was presenting a road map to ministers on Wednesday and hopes to get sign-off at a leaders’ summit next week.
Brussels wants to have the drone project fully up and running by the end of 2027 - but there is scepticism from some EU countries and fears the bloc is treading on NATO’s toes.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned Russia that Ukraine could get Tomahawk cruise missiles if Moscow does not end its invasion.
“I might talk to (Putin). I might say, ‘look, if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,’” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
The US leader said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked for Tomahawks when they were discussing a fresh supply of weapons for Kyiv in a call on Saturday.
“Tomahawks are a new step of aggression,” added Trump, who was travelling to Israel and Egypt to push for a long-term Gaza peace deal.
“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”
Originally published as Secret Russian airfield accidentally exposed on TV by state media
