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Ukraine Uncovers Russian Drone That Uses LTE Internet for Remote Attacks
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
![Photo of Tetiana Frolova]( "Photo of Tetiana Frolova")
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has identified a new Russian drone that relies on mobile internet networks for control, according to an update on its official War & Sanctions platform on August 20.
The drone, an as-yet-unnamed model, has reportedly been used across multiple sectors of the battlefield. Ukrainian officials say it is designed not only for reconnaissance but also as a strike drone—and even as a decoy to overwhelm air-defense systems.
The captured unit analyzed by Ukrainian specialists is equipped with a camera and two LTE modems, allowing operators to stream video in real time and adjust the drone’s flight path via mobile base stations.
In its strike configuration, the camera and remote control features enable it to function as a long-range substitute for FPV drones, homing in on chosen targets.
Most of the drone’s components were sourced from Chinese manufacturers, but investigators also found parts originating from the United States, Japan, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
Structurally, the drone uses a delta-wing design similar to the Iranian Shahed-131 but is fitted with a Chinese-made DLE engine in the nose. Analysts noted similarities to the Russian Italmas drone developed by the Zala Group.
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This isn’t the first time Ukrainian intelligence has examined foreign drones in Russian service. In June 2025, analysts studied a newly supplied Iranian Shahed-136 fitted with thermal imaging technology.
That drone, carrying the unique identifier MS001, was found to include an NVIDIA Jetson Orin microcomputer—typically used for AI and video processing—and an infrared camera, suggesting joint Russian-Iranian efforts to modernize the platform.
Earlier, reports emerged that a key navigation system component used in Shahed-series attack drones is now being openly sold on a major Chinese e-commerce site.
-24ca8683eb01b729cd8fae98f952003a.jpg "Ukrainian Ratel-S drone equipped with a downed Shahed warhead. (Source: omelyanovi4/Instagram)")
-0158b6b681e3668f470de36aedad9e3c.jpg "Russian Su-24 bomber moments before Ukrainian drone strike, Crimea. (Source: HUR)")
