Оборудованная позиция с военной техникой, похожей на боевую машину зенитно-ракетного комплекса «Тор-М2», возле деревни Полошково. Примерно в трех километрах от предполагаемой базы размещения «Орешника». Спутниковый снимок от 9 февраля 2026 года. Источник: svaboda.org
In the area of a former military airfield near Krychau, where Russia, according to investigators, may be deploying the Oreshnik ballistic missile system, equipped positions of air defence and electronic warfare systems have appeared since November 2025. Journalists of Radio Svaboda reached this conclusion after analysing the latest satellite images together with a military expert.
On a Planet Labs image dated 17 February 2026, the authors identified at least six equipped positions with military hardware within a radius of five kilometres around the airfield.
Some of the equipment, based on its configuration and the shadows cast, resembles Russian Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems or the Pantsir air defence missile and gun system. Other units resemble electronic warfare systems such as Krasukha or Moskva-1, the report said. The image quality, however, does not allow for precise identification.
These systems are designed to protect key facilities from aircraft, drones and missile strikes. Their tasks include detecting aerial targets, intercepting them when necessary, and suppressing an adversary’s navigation and control systems.
According to satellite data, the first air defence systems began appearing around the airfield in early November — during the period when foundations for buildings of a military base were being laid on the runway. By mid-December, around the time Aliaksandr Lukashenka announced that the Oreshnik had been placed on combat duty in Belarus, at least six such positions were already visible around the airfield.
As of 17 February, one equipped position with military hardware was located near the village of Zarubets, two near Hannauka, one near Paloshkava, and one near Krasnaya Buda. Another position with several vehicles, some of which may be radar stations, was recorded on the outskirts of the village of Novyya Domamerychy. Small trenches and protective earth embankments have been dug around several of the sites.
According to the analysis, six large vehicles are located in the central part of the military compound on the territory of the former airfield, in the same place as on previously studied images dated 9 February. Experts assess that they may belong to the Oreshnik missile system. Their dimensions and proportions correspond to equipment demonstrated on 30 December 2025 by the Russian and Belarusian defence ministries as having entered combat duty. Construction of a hangar around these vehicles is ongoing.
The images also show an object whose configuration resembles an S-300 surface-to-air missile system.
In comments to the outlet, Ukrainian aviation expert and deputy director of an electronic warfare manufacturing company Anatolii Khrapchynskyi said that the images suggest the creation of a multi-layered air defence system near Krychau. In his view, such a model appears logical in the event of the deployment of a system like the Oreshnik.
He noted that when deploying an intercontinental ballistic missile or a similar complex, Russia typically establishes a layered air defence system to protect a strategically significant facility. Long-range systems such as the S-300 class may be complemented by short-range systems like Pantsir or Tor, which helps to cover “blind spots” and ensure comprehensive protection.
“When Russia deploys an intercontinental ballistic missile or a system like the Oreshnik, it will in any case build an air defence system to cover this facility, since it has strategic importance for it. Accordingly, this will be a layered defence model: long-range systems, for example of the S-300 class, may be covered by short-range systems such as Pantsir or Tor. This generally corresponds to what we see from the configuration of the shadows of the equipment and its placement on the satellite images. In this way, ‘blind spots’ are covered and comprehensive defence of the facility is ensured,” he explained.
According to Khrapchynskyi, the nature of the protection and the significant amount of diverse equipment indicate the high importance of the site for the authorities of Russia and Belarus. In his assessment, this is a closed military compound with a large-scale ground and air defence system, typically assigned to facilities of genuine strategic significance.