On the frontlines in Ukraine, a team of russian drone operators was trying to deploy portable Molniya kamikaze drones under cover of nearby greenery. The disguise, however, wasn't good enough: Ukrainian troops from the 8th Regiment of Special Operations Forces detected and destroyed the equipment.
Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko shared the video showing the final stages of this mission. Two russian drones were waiting for takeoff near the launch catapult when a Ukrainian FPV drone armed with an explosive warhead reached their location. The strike results were not backed by imagery but are claimed to have rendered Molniyas inoperable.
Read more: How the Shark Drone, HIMARS, and FPV Prevented the russian Orlan from Taking Off
Defenders of the 8th SSO Regiment spotted a Russian drone team preparing to launch FPV kamikaze "Molniya." Thanks to a timely strike, these drones will cause no harm. pic.twitter.com/uaXvMdUoIl — NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) February 15, 2025
For context, Molniya is often described as a russian fixed-wing FPV drone, somewhat similar to Ukrainian Darts. It can deliver up to 5 kilograms of explosives upon targets within 40 kilometers away. Invented in the midst of the russian invasion campaign, its simplistic design and components base are optimized for mass production.
The standard warhead is the anti-tank grenade from an RPG-7 weapon or the KZ-6 demolition munition, also found in some Shahed-136 suicide drones. Alternatively, the russian forces have recently accustomed to having Molniyas carry heavier TM-62 mines, weighing 10 kg. Although it's technically past the declared payload capacity of this drone, it still can fly and carry on with the mission but it only works if the UAV is launched from high ground.
Read more: Jerry-Rigged Molniya Drones With TM-62 Mines Instead of Warheads Appear Across Ukrainian Frontlines But They Have a Serious Drawback
