A recent russian propaganda segment has inadvertently exposed not only Moscow's attempts to copy Ukrainian counter-drone technologies but also the location of one of its aircraft used in such experiments. The aircraft in question, the Yak-52 trainer with the serial number RA-1874G, belongs to the Bars-Sarmat Special Purposes Center and was shown in footage that allowed analysts to geolocate its base with high confidence.
The video reveals a number of distinctive geographic and infrastructural details. The Yak-52 aircraft was filmed on an airfield located in a steppe area near a small settlement, featuring a solid asphalt runway, a rare feature among former Soviet airfields, which are usually paved with concrete slabs. The surface appears dark and freshly resurfaced, suggesting recent repair work or repaving.
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Further analysis identified the location as the private Korsak airfield, situated near the village of Pryazovske, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of temporarily occupied Melitopol. The identification was made possible by comparing public satellite imagery from 2020 with the footage shown in the russian report. Several distinctive structures, including a lone metal hangar, narrow taxiway, and unique tile-covered pathway typical of urban pedestrian areas, matched perfectly with features visible in the propaganda video.
More recent satellite images, captured between August 30 and September 7, 2025, indicate that the occupiers have recently conducted repairs at the site, including resurfacing of the asphalt runway and minor construction around the hangar area. This points to renewed military interest in the airfield, which lies only 80 kilometers from the front line, making it a potential staging or testing point for light aircraft adapted for drone interception or surveillance missions.
The Yak-52 itself is a Soviet-era training aircraft, not designed for combat use. However, its adaptation for drone-related experimentation, possibly as a low-cost platform for testing counter-drone sensors or jamming systems, highlights russia's growing improvisation amid industrial and technological shortages.
Meanwhile, russian propagandists also displayed other aircraft, notably the Cessna 172 aircraft equipped with machine-gun pods. The footage suggests these were stationed at a military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, identifiable by its slab-paved surface and heat deflection shields typical of former jet bases.
This indicates that russia may be developing two parallel projects: a lower-tier, experimental Yak-52 platform for training or basic interception, and a higher-tier, armed Cessna model for more advanced applications.
While Moscow's propaganda intended to showcase innovation, it has instead revealed valuable intelligence. The details exposed, from geographic landmarks to maintenance timelines, not only confirm ongoing russian adaptation efforts but also help Ukrainian analysts monitor new threats emerging just tens of kilometers from the active front.
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