Recent satellite images revealed large-scale construction of secret facilities at sites connected with Russia’s nuclear infrastructure. They are surrounded by fences and guarded by watch posts.
According to Ukrinform, Business Insider reported this.
Images from the American company Planet Labs were taken in May and June. Leading analysts studying Russia’s nuclear forces said the photos show new structures, roadworks, and modifications, with some facilities expanding rapidly.
The modernization efforts indicate possible plans by Moscow regarding its nuclear forces amid heightened tension in Europe caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, the article states.
Four European sites include Osipovichi, which hosts a Belarusian ammunition base, and Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea. Satellite images also recorded activity at the Gadzhiyevo naval base near Norway and Finland, and on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, which separates the Barents and Kara Seas.
The first base is in Osipovichi, and eight kilometers east of the city is the Belarusian 1405th ammunition base. Analysts believe significant construction work was carried out there to build nuclear storage facilities. By May 21 this year, it became clear that a new facility with additional security had been erected in the northern corner of the base.
“One thing they’ve done is they’ve put a perimeter up that consists of three layers of fencing, and the middle layer is more enhanced,” stated Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists.
The entrance in the southern corner of the facility is blocked, likely so that guards can inspect trucks out of satellite view.
Kristensen also identified a covered unloading ramp among a group of trees, which likely leads to a warhead storage bunker. On the eastern side of the site, a massive orange antenna for command and control is visible.
There is also a main road and a large platform leading to the railway. According to Kristensen, Russia will likely deliver nuclear warheads there by rail rather than by air.
Additionally, there is another facility in the city of Osipovichi itself, which is likely a base for Iskander missile launchers.
The second base is Gadzhiyevo in Murmansk. This is a naval depot where Russian submarines capable of launching nuclear missiles are stationed. Analysts know nuclear weapons are stored there, as satellites previously recorded warheads at the site. Here, submarines are equipped with intercontinental missiles.
By May 28, 2025, at least six new buildings had been constructed at this base. Kristensen suggests these structures may be front-loading garages or storage sites for conventional missiles or those not yet fitted with nuclear warheads.
The third base is located in western Kaliningrad, bordering Lithuania and Poland. It is believed to be a nuclear storage site with a multilayered perimeter. Analysts think this facility is intended for storing tactical nuclear munitions.
Additionally, five kilometers southeast of the site lies a base for a special nuclear unit. By November 2022, a bunker had been refurbished there. Several new layers of fencing appeared, and by June 14, 2025, a small building had been added.
The fourth base is in Kamchatka, where nuclear warheads are likely stored. A robust security perimeter and the level of maintenance suggest this is a nuclear storage bunker. Two new buildings and a construction site have appeared on the flanks of the facility.
The fifth base is on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. In August 2023, the base began undergoing significant changes, including the appearance of a large new building. In a new Planet Labs photo, construction of the large building and other expansions at the base had been completed by June 6, 2025. Analysts also noted signs of new expansion in tunnel areas near the support base.
As reported by Ukrinform, Russia experienced a major data leak regarding secret nuclear sites, resulting in two million documents being publicly accessible, including full schematics of one of the Strategic Rocket Forces bases in the city of Yasny.
Source: Satellite images show Russia building five secret nuclear bases
