Ukrainian Military Eliminate Russian Molniya Drone Operators Using New Tactic, Video

The Ukrainian military recently exploited a vulnerability in the Russian Molniya suicide UAVs, allowing them to detect and eliminate their operators.

The WU Samurai Telegram channel, operated by fighters involved in intercepting Russian drones, reported this development. According to the channel, the story was shared only after the enemy discovered how the tactic worked.

To locate the Molniya UAV crew, Ukrainian forces used a “small device” near the enemy aircraft.

Interceptor drones were reequipped to conduct both radio reconnaissance and, if needed, destroy the enemy UAV. After pinpointing the location of the Molniya operators, an FPV drone from another team would be deployed to eliminate them.

The fighters stated that each reported destruction of a Molniya UAV was, in fact, the result of eliminating the operators controlling the drone at the time.

Additionally, it has been reported that Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have begun intercepting Russian Shahed (“Geranium”) suicide drones using advanced technologies.

The Darknode unit of the 412th NEMESIS brigade has reportedly destroyed more than 10 Shahed-136/131 drones using a weapon whose type remains undisclosed. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the weapon costs about $5,000, while the enemy drones are valued at over $150,000.

In related news, Ukraine’s 5th Separate Assault Brigade used a fiber-optic guided drone to strike a Russian troop shelter hidden inside a water pipeline along the 'Siverskyi Donets–Donbas' system near Kramatorsk.