The Daily Populous Thursday October 16th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by united24media.com and submitted by jackytheblade

Russian state media inadvertently revealed the location of an airfield hosting modified Yak-52 aircraft used to intercept Ukrainian drones.

According to Defense Express on October 15, the discovery came after propagandists praised what they described as an “innovative” adaptation of a Soviet-era trainer plane—an idea directly copied from Ukraine’s earlier anti-drone tactics.

The aircraft in question, identified as Yak-52 with serial number RA-1874G, reportedly belongs to the Russian special unit “Bars-Sarmat.” Details visible in the footage published by Russian outlets allowed analysts to geolocate the airfield with high confidence.

Personnel from the “Bars-Sarmat” unit prepare the Yak-52 for takeoff. The aircraft is parked on a distinctive tile-patterned surface rarely seen at military airfields, which helped analysts pinpoint the exact location. (Source: Vesti)

Defense Express identified the site as the private “Korsak” airfield, located near the village of Pryazovske, roughly 20 kilometers southeast of occupied Melitopol.

The airstrip lies about 80 kilometers from the frontline. Satellite imagery shows that the airfield underwent recent repairs, with new asphalt resurfacing completed between August 30 and September 7. Analysts note that such upgrades indicate continued operational use by Russian forces.

Side-by-side analysis of ground footage and satellite imagery confirms the Yak-52’s presence at the private “Korsak” airfield near Pryazovske. Geolocation was aided by matching runway shapes, structures, and utility poles. (Source: Defense Express)

The airfield’s layout, including a narrow taxiway connecting at an angle to the main runway and a small metal hangar accessed via a tiled pedestrian-style path, matched the details seen in the Russian broadcast. The dark asphalt surface and distinctive infrastructure helped confirm the site’s identity when compared with 2020 and 2025 satellite imagery.

In contrast, Defense Express reported that Russia’s modified Cessna 172 aircraft—equipped with machine-gun pods for counter-drone missions—are based at a separate military airfield in occupied Crimea.

Satellite imagery comparison shows runway resurfacing at the Pryazovske airfield between August 30 and September 11, 2025, confirming recent Russian activity. (Source: Copernicus Sentinel / European Union, Defense Express / DeepStateMap)

Frames from the same propaganda footage revealed reinforced concrete taxiways and metallic heat deflectors typically used for jet aircraft, suggesting the Cessnas are housed at a higher-level facility once used by Russian fighter jets.

The Yak-52 and Cessna projects reflect Moscow’s ongoing attempts to replicate Ukraine’s early improvisations in aerial counter-drone warfare.

Ukrainian forces were the first to employ small aircraft such as Yak-52 trainers for intercepting reconnaissance drones like Orlan and Zala before the introduction of specialized counter-drone platforms.

By showcasing these “innovations,” Russian media accidentally disclosed sensitive geolocation data about assets operating near the frontline—offering new insight into how Moscow repurposes civilian and training aircraft for military use.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian forces had adapted Soviet-era Yak-52 trainer aircraft into improvised interceptors to counter Russian drones.

Pilots and gunners from the 11th Army Aviation Brigade use these planes to visually track and shoot down reconnaissance and Shahed-type UAVs with small arms—reviving World War I–style aerial tactics as a low-cost supplement to Ukraine’s air defense network.

Odd_Local8434 on October 15th, 2025 at 18:42 UTC »

I joke about US opsec leaks like the one over Discord, but man Russian opsec is so bad. Ukraine should present the people who run Russian Telegram with a medal for their intelligence contributions. I guess Russian state media wanted in on the game.

MightyTaur on October 15th, 2025 at 18:06 UTC »

Target acquired

Sidwill on October 15th, 2025 at 18:01 UTC »

Annndddd its gone.