TacticRU milblogger

Russian AA crews use small arms on electric drones, MANPADS on petrol-powered UAVs

Published 31 October 2026

Crews of the 23rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion, 51st Guards Army (Group Centre), describe maintaining distinct weapon choices for the two main categories of Ukrainian UAV they face over Donetsk: electric-powered Hornet drones are engaged primarily with small arms, while petrol-engined Lyuty (Furious) drones—which cruise at higher altitude before descending on target—are engaged with Igla or Verba MANPADS. Crew members describe around-the-clock observation posts and note the weapon selection is driven entirely by the drone type, not by flight altitude alone.

Pictures from the cited posts

Video Boris Rozhin (Colonel Cassad)

Sources — 1 source

Telegram channel, Russian side:Boris Rozhin (Colonel Cassad) adversary31 Oct 2026 Open the post

Topicsdrones electronic warfare

Related findings

General Atomics and Saab test LoyalEye early-warning radar on MQ-9B · 30 Oct 2026
Greece unveils Achilles Shield multilayer air defence at Thessaloniki, including Rafael Drone Dome · 30 Oct 2026
US tests RD-SUADS mobile counter-drone system with Echodyne radar and DroneBuster EW · 30 Oct 2026
Auterion Talon kinetic drone interceptor operates without GPS or communications · 28 Oct 2026

← Latest findings · All findings from October 2026