Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged that Russia is lagging behind Ukraine in the deployment of heavy combat and transport drones, an unusually candid admission made during a recent televised Direct Line event.
Putin said Ukraine holds an advantage in so-called “Baba Yaga”-type heavy drones, a gap that he described as placing operational pressure on Russian forces and accelerating efforts to develop new unmanned platforms. We reached out to the Kremlin and Russia’s Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The admission highlights the growing role of drone warfare in Russia’s war against Ukraine, where technological adaptation has increasingly influenced battlefield outcomes.
Ukraine’s effective use of heavy drones for logistics, mining, and strike missions has forced Russia to acknowledge shortcomings in an area it once dominated, underscoring broader challenges facing Moscow’s defense industry amid a prolonged conflict.
What To Know
According to a report by Defense Express, Putin told viewers that Russian forces trail Ukraine in the number and effectiveness of heavy “Baba Yaga”-type drones currently in service. He said this disparity has driven Russian efforts to accelerate development of new unmanned systems.
In response, Russian company Dronax has announced work on heavy transport drones capable of carrying payloads of up to 100 kilograms. Company representatives said the platforms are intended to expand operational scenarios, particularly the movement of large or specialized cargo.
While developers have not confirmed whether the drones will be used offensively, heavy UAVs in previous Russian and Ukrainian designs have often combined transport and combat functions.
One such platform, the CK-15SVO drone, has reportedly completed testing with a payload capacity of up to 100 kilograms. Developers say it can deploy cargo as well as TM-62 anti-tank mines, marking a significant increase over earlier systems limited to lighter loads.
Caveat: Publicly available information does not establish how many of these heavy drones are operational, whether they have been deployed to the front, or how their performance compares to Ukrainian systems. Russian officials have not released independent verification or timelines for mass production.
What People Are Saying
Vladimir Putin, speaking during the Direct Line broadcast, said Russia “lags behind” Ukraine in the segment of heavy drones, adding that the imbalance is forcing Russian forces to accelerate technological development.
Defense Express noted in its analysis that Ukraine’s active battlefield use of heavy drones has “created pressure” on Russia to close the gap through new transport and multi-role UAV platforms.
What Happens Next
Russia is expected to continue testing and showcasing heavy drone prototypes as it seeks to narrow the technological gap with Ukraine. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, continue to expand drone-based logistics and strike capabilities, suggesting unmanned systems will remain a central focus of the conflict in the months ahead.
