In Video Ukraine Downs Two Expensive Russian Reconnaissance Drones

Ukrainian Drone Strike Targets Russian Reconnaissance Drones

A video circulating on Telegram reportedly depicts a Ukrainian operation that successfully downed two Russian Merlin-VR reconnaissance drones. Each of these advanced drones is valued at approximately 264000 euros.

The Ukrainian drone unit known as Dronopad claims to have taken out both drones within a span of just 30 minutes. The Ukrainian military aid fund Komm lebendig zurück shared the footage on Telegram, but as noted by the Kyiv Post, the authenticity of the video, including its timing and location, has not been independently verified.

Cost and Capabilities of the Merlin-VR Drone

Introduced by Russia in late 2021, the Merlin-VR drone is recognized as the country’s most expensive reconnaissance drone, coming in at over 300000 dollars or 264000 euros. It boasts an operational ceiling of five kilometers, can remain airborne for up to ten hours, and has a range of 600 kilometers.

According to reports from the Dronopad initiative, they have reportedly neutralized over a dozen of these high-value drones, accumulating a total worth exceeding 36 million dollars. The first Merlin-VR drone was purportedly shot down by Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2022.