Russia unleashes new Molniya-1 drone on Kharkiv for first time

The Molniya-1 combat drone fell on Kharkiv for the first time on Tuesday, November 12. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the district prosecutor's office in Kharkiv, provided this information, as cited by Unian.

"For the first time in Kharkiv, a combat drone—loitering munition called Molniya-1—was used. Its size is somewhere between a home drone, like a Mavic, and a Shahed. It has a wingspan of 4 feet and weighs approximately 22 pounds," explained Chubenko. It's important to note that the Molniya-1 can carry ammunition weighing up to 11 pounds. Under its construction, both cumulative shells and fragmentation-explosive warheads can be placed.

Experts examined the drone and determined that the Molniya-1 is a new design, only "a few years old," and Russia has only recently begun deploying it on Ukrainian territory. "It's a small drone. Compared to the Shahed itself, it is several times smaller. It carries ammunition that cannot fulfill any major military objectives for the Russian Federation, such as destroying a building or significantly damaging a fortified object. It's a tactic to terrorize the local population," Chubenko said.

The use of this drone confirms the words of aviation expert Anatoliy Khrapchynski, who observed that the Russian Federation has been economizing in the war recently and now prefers using small drones instead of expensive cruise missiles.

Given that the Molniya-1 is a new design and has rarely appeared in Ukraine—and was used for the first time in Kharkiv—the exact parameters of this weapon are unknown. However, reports suggest that it is a relatively simple design that uses an electric motor for propulsion and a battery that is likely to have a capacity of 7500 mAh. The craft is also equipped with a camera, facilitating a successful strike.