Russian forces are increasingly using larger “mothership” drones to carry and deploy smaller FPV (first-person-view) attack drones deep inside Ukrainian territory, according to a report by the Ukraine-based think tank Snake Island Institute (SII).
The report noted that Russian units now employ Molniya-type UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to transport several FPVs closer to their intended targets before releasing them 5 to 10 kilometers away. “This method preserves FPV battery life, improves terminal guidance accuracy, and reduces the chance of early detection,” SII said.
In some cases, the think tank added, the released FPVs switch to commercial LTE networks for control once they reach areas with stable mobile coverage to evade Ukrainian jamming systems.
SII cited an October 25 incident in Kharkiv, where two FPV drones launched from a Molniya UAV struck residential buildings in Ukraine’s Shevchenkivskyi district.
“The incident illustrates the broader pattern: Russia is transitioning from massed, high-visibility drone salvos to small, distributed, low-cost precision strikes that complicate Ukraine’s air-defense planning and force a wider, more resource-intensive defensive posture,” SII said.
Earlier this year, Ukrainian military analyst Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov reported that Russia has been modifying Molniya kamikaze drones into drone-mothers capable of carrying FPV‑type UAVs. “The Molniya UAV has been converted into a mothership, with reinforced batteries installed in place of the warhead,” he wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian units have also reported destroying Molniya “mothership” drones in recent months.
In July, Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade released video footage it claims shows a Molniya kamikaze UAV transporting an FPV drone. “Heavenly Rusoriz, in collaboration with air defense pilots Sentinels, are destroying enemy Molniya drones; the first one carried an FPV drone on board,” the brigade wrote on Telegram.
Video from Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade showing a Molniya kamikaze UAV carrying an FPV.https://t.co/Juq7OOaNFe https://t.co/8eUCjqBvE8 pic.twitter.com/V687XJ8LcM
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 4, 2025
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense published footage purportedly showing Ukrainian interceptor drones destroying 34 Russian Molniya-type UAVs. “When Ukrainian interceptor drones go on the hunt, Russian drones fall,” the ministry said in a post accompanying the video. No further details about the strikes were disclosed.
-34 russian Molniya drones
When Ukrainian interceptor drones go on the hunt, russian drones fall.📹: Signum Battalion pic.twitter.com/tFoiOlZFhX
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 17, 2025
