Lancet drones that attacked Kyiv contain components from Western countries - Zelenskyy's advisor
Russian Lancet drones that attacked Kyiv on Monday likely contained at least 50 components manufactured in Western countries, presidential sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk said on Facebook.
The drones, one of which crashed near Independence Square in central Kyiv, reached the capital under their own power after “design modifications.” The Lancet models recovered contained a lidar, camera, extra memory and processor, Vlasiuk added.
About 50 key components in the drones were produced in the United States, Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, and Russia — some dated 2023 and 2024.
Ukraine’s Air Force called the March 16 morning drone attack “atypical.” Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat explained that the use of Lancet loitering munitions — normally short-range frontline weapons — marked a departure from standard Russian tactics.
The Lancet drone was first presented in June 2019 at the Army-2019 exhibition in Moscow. It has a top speed of up to 300 km/h and a range of up to 40 km, and can be used for both reconnaissance and strikes.
Testing began during Russia’s intervention in Syria in 2020, with confirmed use against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants in Idlib province in April 2021. The system has been widely employed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
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