Ukrainian armored capsules hidden underground and used for drone operations can be destroyed with aerial bombs, Yan Gagin, a member of Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy and a participant in the special military operation, told NEWS.ru.

The shelters were previously reported in Zelenaya Dibrova in the Zaporozhye Region. A Russian assault unit commander with the call sign Def said Ukrainian forces had installed metal structures buried in the ground and fitted with armored doors, air supply systems and electricity. According to him, the facilities were used to launch drones.

Gagin said Ukrainian forces had been building such positions for a long time and that Russian troops had encountered them since the beginning of the special military operation. Finding the shelters is only part of the challenge, he explained, because destroying them requires enough firepower to penetrate their heavy protection. In many cases, this means using aerial bombs delivered by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Once one of these positions is located, Russian forces may first disrupt its supply routes and cut off the troops inside from rear support, Gagin said. The site can then be stormed or hit with aerial bombs. Drones can also be used against such targets, although their effectiveness depends on how much payload they are able to carry.

Gagin also pointed to the advantages these shelters provide to Ukrainian drone crews. An operator only needs to leave cover long enough to launch the aircraft, then return underground and control it from inside while antennas remain outside.

This arrangement allows the crew to stay concealed and protected. Gagin said destroying a fortified position used to launch and control drones could significantly ease the advance of Russian units on that section of the front.