Belarus constructing secret military base

According to journalists from Radio Svaboda, construction began as early as June 2024 and now covers more than 2 square kilometers. The Belarusian authorities have not mentioned it in any official documents, nor has it been reported by state or even local media. There are also no public records regarding the allocation of land for such a large-scale facility.

Strategic Location

The facility consists of four separate sections. Satellite images from Planet Labs show that the buildings within the complex are connected by a network of newly constructed roads. According to information obtained from a source, 13 ammunition depots surrounded by protective walls have already been built, along with three 100-meter-long hangars and a number of other structures, including one nearly 270 meters in length.

Analysts agree that the construction of the complex carries strategic significance. It is suggested that the site is being prepared with infrastructure necessary for Russian ballistic missiles such as the “Oreshnik.” Analysts also do not rule out the possibility that air defense elements may be deployed there. It cannot be excluded that the new base could serve purposes related to nuclear weapons, making use of former Soviet-era structures.

It is worth recalling that the area where the new base is being built once played a strategic role. Between 1959 and 1993, the 306th Missile Regiment was stationed there, equipped with long-range missiles, and since 1960 a repair and technical base operated on-site, responsible for servicing nuclear warheads.

After the collapse of the USSR, Belarus became the first country to voluntarily give up nuclear weapons. In 1993, the regiment was withdrawn and relocated to Russia. For years, the abandoned base deteriorated, though remnants of fortifications, launchers, shelters, and bunkers could still be found.

Another Facility

The described installation is not the only one being developed near Poland’s borders. Just a few days ago, reports emerged that in the heart of the Kaliningrad Oblast, only 100 kilometers from the borders with Poland and Lithuania, Russia is building one of the most advanced electronic intelligence centers. These reports were also confirmed by satellite imagery.

Satellite images from 2025 show that the complex is equipped with dozens of antennas arranged in a circular pattern, including a large ring-shaped antenna with an estimated diameter of 1.6 km. This is significantly larger than typical installations of this kind in Europe.

Construction of the facility began in March 2023. According to analysts, it may enable Moscow to intercept both military and civilian communications deep within NATO territory, including Poland, Lithuania, and Germany, as well as disrupt the alliance’s command and control capabilities, particularly in a crisis situation.

View from Orbit

The information described above is yet another example of the usefulness of data collected from orbit. Satellite imagery has become an indispensable element of modern military operations and intelligence activities. The war in Ukraine provides the clearest example of this.

It is important to remember, however, that the use of satellites in armed conflicts is not new. This technology was already employed during the Gulf War in 1991 and in Afghanistan. What is unprecedented today is the scale of their use. This is largely due to the availability of commercial services, which can now be accessed even by civilian entities.