Ukrainian “Baba Yaga” Drone With Machine Gun Hunts Russian Troops Near Huliaipole, Video

A heavy Ukrainian multirotor drone equipped with a mounted machine gun and bomb-release system has been recorded engaging Russian infantry positions near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region.

According to Defense Express on May 2, footage circulating online—reportedly captured by a Russian reconnaissance drone—shows the Ukrainian platform firing from an airborne position while operating over a wooded area near the village of Varvarivka, close to Huliaipole. The same drone is also seen deploying aerial munitions during the engagement.

Defense Express reports that the system is likely a heavy multirotor platform similar to those often referred to as “Baba Yaga” by Russian forces—a term used informally to describe large Ukrainian strike drones.

Due to the low resolution of the footage, the exact model cannot be confirmed, though analysts cited by the outlet suggest the weapon may be mounted on a suspended turret.

The video appears to show the drone combining two attack methods—direct fire from a machine gun and vertical munition drops—allowing operators to adjust tactics depending on the target. Such configurations could be used against infantry or lightly armored vehicles.

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While instances of Ukrainian heavy drones equipped with firearms have been reported previously, visual documentation remains limited. Defense Express notes that similar systems were observed as early as 2024, but verified footage remains rare.

These drones are designed to deliver relatively low-cost strikes while maintaining operational flexibility in contested environments.

According to Defense Express, Russia has acknowledged lagging behind Ukraine in the development of heavy multirotor strike drones, although efforts are reportedly underway to expand this capability.

Earlier, Russia acknowledged it is falling behind Ukraine in heavy combat drones, including systems known as “Baba Yaga,” and has begun efforts to expand and scale its own capabilities in this area.

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