KYIV, Ukraine — May 18, 2026 : Ukraine’s Armed Forces have begun deploying modified long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of launching unguided aviation rockets during strike missions up to 500 kilometers inside Russian-controlled territory, according to Major Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF).
The new systems combine the functions of a kamikaze drone and a rocket-launch platform, allowing the UAVs to carry both a heavy explosive payload and multiple air-to-ground rockets in a single mission. Ukrainian officials say the development is intended to increase the effectiveness of deep-strike operations against Russian logistics, air defense positions, command nodes, and fuel infrastructure located far from the front line.
Hybrid Drone Configuration
According to Brovdi, the modified drones are equipped with a 60-kilogram high-explosive strike warhead along with up to eight NURS unguided aviation rockets. NURS rockets are traditionally used by attack helicopters and close air support aircraft against ground targets.
The drones reportedly operate at distances where conventional Ukrainian aircraft and helicopters cannot safely conduct missions because of Russian air defense coverage. Brovdi stated that combining a kamikaze strike capability with rocket deployment creates additional tactical options for attacking defended targets.
“No helicopter or plane can get to where the freedom-loving Ukrainian unmanned bird flies. Therefore, this combined method of using kamikaze + 8 NURS opens up completely different opportunities,” Brovdi said.
The rockets are intended to suppress nearby defensive elements such as machine gun teams, MANPADS crews, and mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) operators before the drone’s primary warhead strikes the main objective.
Development and Early Testing
Brovdi said the concept of integrating NURS rockets onto drones was first tested in 2022 during combat operations in eastern Ukraine. Initial deployments reportedly took place in the Bakhmut and Soledar sectors with the “Klima” unit, as well as near Urozhaine and Krasnohorivka.
During the early operational phase, the drones were used primarily against Russian helicopters and defensive positions along the line of combat contact. Reflecting on the first combat tests, Brovdi remarked, “Although we survived, I didn’t like it.”
Since then, the system has evolved into a dedicated long-range strike platform designed for operations deep behind Russian lines.
Operations in Crimea
The Unmanned Systems Forces stated that the hybrid drones have already been used in occupied Crimea. Video footage released by Brovdi reportedly showed drones striking a communications node connected to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet near Myrnyi (Mirne).
According to Ukrainian military sources, the drones launched NURS rockets before the UAV’s main warhead impacted the target. Ukrainian officials say the dual-strike approach allows the system to engage defensive personnel and infrastructure simultaneously during a single attack run.
Large-Scale Drone Operations
The announcement came shortly after one of Ukraine’s largest coordinated long-range drone attacks of the war. On May 17, 2026, Ukrainian forces launched nearly 600 UAVs across 14 Russian regions, according to Russian authorities.
Russia claimed that air defenses intercepted 556 drones, although several strategic facilities in and around Moscow were reportedly struck during the operation.
| Target Facility | Location | Strategic Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Elma-Zelenograd Technopark | Zelenograd, northwest of Moscow | Microelectronics and defense manufacturing |
| Angstrem Semiconductor Plant | Zelenograd | High-precision weapons components |
| Solnechnogorsk Oil Depot | Moscow Region | Fuel logistics and storage |
| Moscow Oil Refinery | Kapotnya District, Moscow | Fuel production and supply |
Residents in Moscow and nearby regions reported explosions and structural damage following the strikes. In a later statement, Brovdi commented that “Moscow never sleeps,” signaling the continuation of Ukrainian long-range drone operations.
Expanding Unmanned Warfare Capabilities
The integration of unguided aviation rockets into long-range UAV platforms marks a further expansion of Ukraine’s unmanned warfare capabilities. Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on drones for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, precision strikes, and long-range attacks against military infrastructure beyond the frontline.
Military analysts note that the hybrid drone concept provides Ukraine with a relatively low-cost method of striking protected targets while reducing risks to manned aircraft. The use of rockets against nearby defensive units may also improve the survivability and effectiveness of long-range drone strikes against heavily defended facilities.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces continue to expand both the operational range of UAVs and the variety of munitions integrated into drone platforms as part of broader efforts to increase long-range strike capacity during the ongoing conflict.
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