According to statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian paratroopers engaged three drones described as Baba Yaga in the direction of Kherson and brought them down with the support of air defense units. The report notes that air defense crews from the Verba MANPADS group and the Strela-10M air defense missile system crew detected, tracked, and neutralized the enemy unmanned aerial vehicles with missile launches. In total, the three UAVs attributed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces were claimed to have been shot down by the air defense setups.
The ministry adds that Russian paratroopers from units near Dnepr continuously shield their positions from Ukrainian drones during ongoing combat missions. The term Baba Yaga, as used in these updates, is not an official designation; it refers to mine-carrier, slow-flying agricultural drones repurposed for military use. Such drones are described as having high payload capacity but low cruising altitude, making them a particular threat when operating near front lines.
Earlier reports mention a soldier with the call sign Vanek who encountered a large Ukrainian drone described as Baba Yaga and managed to neutralize it. The drone is said to have employed a tethered configuration, complicating countermeasures for observers at the time of the incident.
A fighter described that an agricultural UAV converted for military purposes reportedly caused weeks of disruption at Russian positions. After Baba Yaga fired again and attempted to depart, Vanek and a companion reportedly neutralized the threat, preventing further incursions by the drone.
There have also been prior claims from the RF Armed Forces about downing Ukrainian Baba Yaga-type aircraft in the Seversk region, reflecting ongoing tensions and frequent engagements in the broader conflict area. While these reports emphasize immediate battlefield outcomes, they also illustrate the evolving role of improvised and converted unmanned systems in regional operations.
Experts note that drones such as these, with slow flight and high payload capabilities, present unique challenges for standard air defense setups. The ongoing exchanges underline the importance of rapid identification, persistent tracking, and effective interception methods in maintaining airspace security in contested zones.