A kamikaze drone shot down over Belgorod was reportedly found to contain RDX based PE8 L23A1 explosives of British origin. This assessment comes from a military blogger who uses the name War Noir, after examining a photograph of the wreckage, which circulated on a Telegraph channel and was referenced by Bulgarian military sources. War Noir’s analysis points to markings on the drone and the presence of white explosive bars with wires running along the body of the aircraft, suggesting a tailored explosive payload rather than an ordinary civilian device.
In the discussion surrounding the payload, it is claimed that Chemring Energetics UK Ltd has developed an enhanced RDX formulation that purportedly increases the effectiveness of the PE8 in combat scenarios. The same release notes that a civilian variant of the explosives is produced for building demolitions, highlighting dual-use capabilities that can apply to both military and civilian projects. War Noir attributes these claims to recent industry updates reported by the company, though independent verification remains limited at this stage.
Earlier reporting described a UAV incident in Belgorod that involved a drone striking a window of a residence on Popova Street. Local authorities, including the city mayor, Valentin Demidov, communicated through Telegram that residents were advised to move to safety as a precaution. The regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that three unmanned aerial vehicles had crashed in Belgorod on the preceding day, underscoring ongoing concerns about drone activity in the region.
These events have raised questions about the types of payloads being encountered and the potential domestic and international implications. Analysts emphasize the challenge of confirming explosive formulations and weapon classifications based on imagery and initial reports, stressing the need for careful verification from independent explorers of open-source data. The evolving narrative reflects the broader context of aerial threats in the region and the importance of credible, verifiable information in war reportage.