Where And How Hide 'Shaheds', Which Struck At Ukraine From Territory Of Belarus

The exact launch site has been established.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports launches of Iranian kamikaze drones Shahed-136 against Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. Flagstaff tried to figure out where and how kamikaze drones could be launched from the territory of Belarus.

Some technical specifications: the manufacturer announced a range of Shahed-136 of 1000 or more kilometers with the possibility of delivering a military unit weighing 50 kilograms. The drone flies at altitudes from 60 to 4000 meters at a cruising speed of about 180 km/h. The UAV launches with a rocket charge and continues its flight powered by a noisy 50 horsepower, 2-stroke Chinese-made engine. Its flight is accompanied by a "scooter" sound. One can hear it from kilometers away.

Transportation record

Russian media do not publish photos or videos of the transportation and launch of these drones. The only launch video available is a presentation video created by the drone manufacturer. The operator tends not to show the cargo chassis that has the drone launcher on it. However, it is possible to identify the chassis manufacturer.

The Iranian manufacturer placed the mobile version of the 5-drone launcher on a Chinese Howo truck chassis. The truck cabin has no sleeping bag with an aerodynamic fairing. The chassis has the axle arrangement 6x4. The launcher is designed as a flatbed body with an awning. But it has the flatbed body. A hydraulic stop serves to set the starting position, so there is more space between the body and cabin in this model than in a conventional truck (as in a dump truck).

A comparison of Howo dump truck cabin and Shahed-136 drones chassis (the cabin on the left side of the illustration is mirrored for better comparison).

Such a vehicle when driving does not look like a military vehicle. However, a number of specific design features and uncharacteristic for Belarus brand can show the real purpose of such a truck.

The position of launches

The first verified attack by drones from the territory of Belarus was carried out on October 10. The head of the Mykolaiv regional military administration Vitaly Kim pointed out that the drones were detected in Ivankiv district (the abolished district of the Kyiv region, which bordered the Brahin and Khoiniki districts, the Homel region). Given that there is no information about the registration of noisy drones flying over the territory of Belarus to date, one can assume that UAVs are launched not from airfields but the closed territory of the Polesski Radiation and Ecological Reserve or the territory of the poorly populated borderland.

As of 10 October, 32 Shahed-136 UAVs had been delivered to the territory of Belarus, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, and eight more UAVs will be delivered by 14 October.