Russian cheap suicide drone: Destroys expensive Ukrainian equipment, tanks, howitzers

As the Russian invasion enters its 17th month, Ukrainian forces say Moscow is stepping up its use of cheap suicide drones capable of destroying equipment many times its value and not easily defended against.

The Lancet drone, an angular gray tube with two sets of four wings, has posed an increasing threat on Ukraine's front lines in recent months, according to Ukrainian soldiers.

Videos released by pro-Russian social media channels over the past month appear to show Lancet drones damaging or destroying valuable equipment donated to Ukraine by the West, such as the Leopard 2 tank and the Caesar self-propelled howitzer.

Speaking to Reuters, Ukrainian soldiers from four different artillery crews cited Lancets as one of the main threats they faced on the battlefield.

Several soldiers said the frequency of its use had increased in recent months.

"Earlier, in the spring, they didn't use lancets as often as they do now," said 35-year-old artillery gunner Bohdan, near Avdiyevka on the front line in the Donetsk region.

Reuters reports that Russia's Defense Ministry is encouraging increased production of the Lancet as a low-cost way to target high-value Western equipment given to Ukraine for its counteroffensive, said Samuel Bendet, associate senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Bendet said that, according to publicly available Russian sources, the Lancet drone costs about three million rubles (about $35.000).

By comparison, analysts estimate that a single S-300 missile used by Russia will cost at least several hundred thousand dollars.

The Leopard 2 tank is worth several million dollars.

Because the Lancet is a single-use device that destroys itself on impact, Bendet said it can only be viable if the cost comes down to tens of thousands of dollars per drone.