Ukrainian defence-tech company General Chereshnya has presented a new kamikaze-style strike drone called “Khmarynka,” designed to hit targets at tactical depth with a payload of up to 7 kilograms, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi.
The emergence of new low-cost strike UAVs reflects Ukraine’s broader shift toward scalable, expendable systems designed to sustain high-intensity battlefield operations through volume production rather than high-end precision platforms alone.
"Cheap to produce, effective in use, designed for mass deployment"
The company describes the system as a low-cost, mass-use platform built for battlefield scalability. In its announcement, it said: “Khmarynka is a kamikaze aircraft-type UAV that is cheap to produce, effective in use, and designed for mass deployment.”
The drone is intended for strikes against a range of battlefield targets, including armored vehicles, logistics routes, warehouses, command posts, shelters, and fortified positions in contested areas.
“It strikes the enemy, its positions, logistics routes, warehouses, and headquarters,” the company said, adding that it also forces opposing air defenses to expend resources.
Specs: 50 km range, 60-minute endurance, catapult launch
According to Militarnyi, the drone is a fixed-wing loitering munition with a maximum range of up to 50 km and an endurance of around 60 minutes. It can reach speeds of up to 140 km/h and has a wingspan of 196 cm, a length of 153 cm, and a height of 33 cm.
It is launched using a catapult system, allowing rapid deployment in field conditions without dedicated infrastructure, according to the manufacturer.
Designed for the "grey zone"
Militarnyi notes that the platform is designed to operate in the “grey zone,” where Russian forces use drones for reconnaissance, strikes, and logistics support. The company emphasizes low production cost and scalability as core design priorities.
General Chereshnya also framed the system as part of a broader attrition strategy: “It exhausts enemy air defenses, forcing them to spend resources where it hurts the most,” the company said.
First 150 units going to brigades free of charge
The firm added that Khmarynka has already completed internal and field testing and is now ready for serial production. A first batch of 150 units is being transferred free of charge to Ukraine’s Defense Forces for operational feedback.
“We are currently handing over the first systems to friendly brigades for combat testing to further improve and scale it,” the company said.
The drone is also expected to become available via the Brave1 defense technology marketplace.
A mirror of Russia's Molniya
Militarnyi analysts note that the platform visually resembles Russia’s “Molniya” type strike drones, featuring a simplified airframe design without a full fuselage and a modular payload section mounted above the central structure.
Molniya-style drones are widely used by Russian forces for short-range frontline strikes, including against civilian areas near the front line. They are valued for their simplicity, low cost, and ability to be deployed in large numbers for repeated attacks on positions and support infrastructure in contested areas.
