Russia is building a new military base near Melitopol in the occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian partisans.
The Atesh movement reported on Telegram that the facility is located in the village of Mirne, near Melitopol.
Atesh agents say the site belongs to the 291st Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces and is under round-the-clock surveillance. The reported coordinates are N46° 55.83174’, E35° 25.05522’.
Construction equipment is actively working at the location, where Russia is building a large field camp to accommodate personnel. Partisans say special attention is being paid to creating specialized training clusters, including sites for drone operator training.
“The enemy is trying to create a rear base for training reserves and drone operators, hoping it will remain beyond reach deep in occupied territory. This is a mistake,” Atesh said.
The group added that the construction is being monitored by the underground network and that the coordinates have already been passed to Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
“Instead of new barracks, a fiery ‘salute’ awaits the occupiers,” the statement said.
Earlier in February, Atesh also reported mass checks and interrogations within the Russian-installed administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, particularly in Melitopol.
“Since mid-January 2026, internal inspections and interrogations of staff have been ongoing in the occupation administration. Activities are particularly intense in Melitopol and several district administrations,” the group said.
Employees are reportedly being summoned for “interviews,” with personal mobile phones and correspondence inspected. In some cases, devices are temporarily seized for “detailed analysis.”
According to preliminary information, the measures followed leaks of sensitive data on Russian unit locations, logistics routes, troop movements, and several infrastructure incidents in the region.
“The leadership is seriously considering the presence of an internal source,” Atesh added.
It remains unclear whether this is directly linked to the new base, however, Russia may be attempting to strengthen security around newly built military facilities.
Meanwhile, occupied Mariupol in the Donetsk region has also become a hub for Russian military training, according to Channel 24, citing Petro Andryushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation.
He said Russia has established at least three training grounds around Mariupol. The main site in the Mariupol-Berdyansk agglomeration lies near the villages of Urzuf and Babakh-Tarama in the Donetsk region and close to Kulykivske in the Zaporizhzhia region. Two additional training grounds are located to the northeast and northwest.
These bases primarily train assault units, including Storm-V formations, which are later deployed along the front line from Vasylivka in the Zaporizhzhia region to the northern Donetsk region.