Russia Repairs and Reuses Captured Ukrainian Heavy Bomber Drones

Russian forces are recovering Ukrainian heavy multirotor drones, repairing them, and employing the aircraft in combat operations. The drones, nicknamed Baba Yaga by Russian soldiers, carry payloads of roughly 15 kilograms over distances of up to 20 kilometers and use infrared cameras for night missions.

Ukraine has deployed them to drop munitions on Russian positions and to conduct resupply flights.

Russia has introduced several heavy multirotor prototypes, including the Alexander Nevsky hexacopter and the MiS-150 platform, but most remain in testing. Technical requirements for lift, stability, and electronic-warfare resistance have limited large-scale production.

Ukrainian drones are frequently downed by Russian electronic-warfare systems that exploit their radio-frequency links or by small-arms fire aimed at exposed rotor arms. The resulting recoverable airframes have prompted Russian units and volunteer groups to establish repair workshops.

Videos posted on social media and by the Russian Ministry of Defense show repaired drones dropping anti-tank mines, mortar rounds, and other munitions on Ukrainian positions. Some footage depicts infrared night operations; others show daytime strikes.

The same platforms are also used to deliver supplies to forward outposts where ground routes are exposed to Ukrainian fire. Russian units have fitted the captured aircraft with new radios and navigation modules compatible with their communications networks.