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Russian Drone Operators Use Homemade Chemical Munitions in Combat, Leaked Manual Reveals

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Amira_barkhush
Amira Barkhush
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Russian Drone Operators Use Homemade Chemical Munitions in Combat, Leaked Manual Reveals
Russian soldier holding a Mavic drone. (Source: Russian Defense Ministry

Russian drone operators have begun using homemade munitions containing dangerous chemicals, Militarnyi reported on April 2, citing a training manual leaked online.

The drones in question are commercial models, such as the DJI Mavic 3 and Autel, which are deployed in combat for reconnaissance and fire support missions.

According to the news outlet, a training manual from the radiation, chemical, and biological defense unit of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces, recently leaked online, outlines the purpose, tactical and technical characteristics, components, and intended use of these munitions.

To produce their homemade munitions, Russian forces reportedly use pre-made mixtures of hazardous chemicals contained in ampoules.

Other necessary components include:

  • A modified hand grenade fuse (similar to the F-1 grenade fuse);

  • Plastic explosive;

  • A tailpiece;

  • Adhesive tape.

The process involves attaching the plastid to the grenade fuse, followed by the ampoules containing toxic substances, adding the tailpiece, and securing everything with adhesive tape.

Militarnyi points out that the total weight of such a homemade munition is approximately 300 grams (10.5 oz), comparable to the weight of standard hand grenades like the RGD-5 (310 grams/10.9 oz) or the VOG-17 (350 grams/ 12.3 oz), which are also used as munitions for drone drops.

Screenshot from the manual of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces on homemade ammunition with a dangerous chemical substance of an unidentified type. (Source: Militarnyi)
Screenshot from the manual of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces on homemade ammunition with a dangerous chemical substance of an unidentified type. (Source: Militarnyi)

The claimed effective radius is 15 meters, and the intended purpose is to “neutralize enemy personnel through the action of toxic substances.”

In March 2025, the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Reconnaissance Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Support Command recorded 767 instances of various munitions being used, including ones containing hazardous chemicals. These munitions are classified as crowd control agents and are prohibited for use in warfare.

On February 14, experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that Russian forces are using grenades containing banned chemical substances in their war against Ukraine.

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