Russia has begun using FPV drones with dropped explosive payloads. They are being found already dozens of kilometers from the border, not only on the ground but also on the roofs of apartment buildings, according to Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
Fiber-optic FPV drones are extremely difficult to counter. The main defense against radio-controlled FPV drones is electronic warfare, which can jam signals and force drones to crash before impact.
However, fiber-optic FPV drones cannot be jammed. This is why both Russian and Ukrainian forces are increasingly developing fiber-optic models, although they are several times more expensive than standard radio-controlled drones, costing around $500.
Drones are already being found in cities tens of kilometers from border
According to Beskrestnov, an FPV drone with an explosive payload was discovered on the roof of a high-rise building. The distance from the border was over 30 kilometers. A similar object had been found on a street the day before.
Beskrestnov said these FPV drones are delivered by a “Gerbera” UAV.
Lightweight “Gerbera” used as carrier for long-range FPV deployment
In February, fragments of a Russian “Gerbera” drone were discovered in Ukraine, showing it had been used as a carrier for FPV drones.
The FPV drone itself was not found at the crash site. According to “Flash,” it may have been either a strike or reconnaissance drone. This design allows operators to deliver kamikaze FPV drones over significantly longer distances without using their own battery power during transit.
The “Gerbera” UAV has a foam-based base, making it cheap and easy to produce and deploy. Russian forces began actively using this model against Ukraine in 2024.
It is used for electronic reconnaissance, as a kamikaze strike drone, or as a decoy to overload Ukrainian air defense systems.
Previously, the “Molniya” drone was used as a carrier for FPVs, but it lacked a relay system. Russia has also used the “Orlan” reconnaissance UAV to carry two small quadcopter drones under its wings.
“Flash” urged civilians to remain cautious, warn children "not to touch any suspicious objects."
