Closer look at Ukraine’s feared “Baba Yaga” drones

Russia and Ukraine confirmed they have agreed to a three-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange following a surprise diplomatic intervention by US President Donald Trump. The pause in fighting will run from May 9 through May 11 to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations. Despite the temporary halt in hostilities, both sides remain on high alert for possible troop movements — a task increasingly dominated by drone warfare, particularly the use of large multicopter bomber drones.

A new generation of these systems has become “the most feared and most effective weapons in Ukraine’s arsenal.” The Forbes magazine outlet spoke with Ukrainian drone manufacturer Reactive Drone about the evolution of the technology.

Artem Kolesnyk, CTO of Reactive Drone, said massive multicopter drones now launch nightly missions across Ukraine carrying heavy bomb payloads against Russian targets. While they resemble the bomber drones that helped halt Russia’s advance toward Kyiv four years ago, Kolesnyk stressed that today’s systems are vastly more sophisticated.

He explains how newer models are smarter, more resilient and capable of striking moving targets at much greater distances while carrying significantly larger payloads. They are also better equipped to survive electronic warfare and direct attacks thanks to constant software updates, improved hardware and operator training.

“It is critical for companies like ours to deliver not just a standalone drone, but a complete operational ecosystem,” says Kolesnyk.

From improvised bombers to precision strike platforms

The early benchmark was the R18 drone developed by Aerorozvidka volunteers in 2022 to deliver heavier payloads than commercial drones could carry. Those systems transported around five kilograms of explosives over distances of up to five kilometers, forcing crews to launch them dangerously close to Russian positions. The R18s typically carried modified RPG-7 anti-tank warheads.

They were later succeeded by systems such as Reactive Drone’s Kazhan (“Bat”) series, alongside other heavy bomber drones like Vampire and Heavy Shot developed by competing firms. The Kazhan first appeared in late 2022 before entering larger-scale production in 2024.

According to Forbes, Russian troops reportedly developed an almost superstitious fear of the night-flying drones, nicknaming them after Baba Yaga — the terrifying child-eating witch from Slavic folklore.

New generation drones

The Kazhan drones have an operational bombing range of between three and seven kilometers depending on payload, though one-way strike missions can double that distance. One major improvement has been battery technology capable of operating even during harsh winter conditions.

“Reactive Drone has self-developed Li-Po solid state batteries with auto-heating system, which is unique in Ukraine as well as worldwide,” says Kolesnyk. “We have also started our own production of advanced batteries in our factory in Poland.”

Another major advancement lies in communications. The Kazhan can simultaneously operate using three independent channels: encrypted dual-band digital radio, Starlink satellite connectivity and LTE mobile networks.

“Starlink is highly effective because it is not constrained by distance, terrain, or radio horizons,” says Kolesnyk. “However, its performance can be affected by adverse weather conditions or disruptions in satellite availability. In addition, the horizontal mounting of Starlink hardware can reduce the aerodynamic efficiency and speed of multirotor drones, and its resistance to jamming is moderate rather than absolute.”

As Forbes notes, reliance on any single communications system is considered risky. The drone’s three communication links operate in parallel, allowing uninterrupted control even if one channel is disrupted.

The Kazhan can reportedly carry payloads of up to 30 kilograms, with munitions tailored to specific missions. Precision targeting has also improved dramatically compared to the early years of the war.

In 2022, operators often had to manually “walk” bombs onto targets by repeatedly adjusting aim after each drop. Modern systems now rely heavily on AI-assisted targeting.

“Today, that is no longer the norm,” says Kolesnyk. “Modern heavy UAV platforms like Kazhan operate as precision strike systems. The drone is equipped with a system that assists the operator in locking onto a target, tracking it, and automatically determining its coordinates using integrated AI.”

According to Kolesnyk, operators simply place crosshairs on a target before the drone automatically calculates wind, altitude and speed adjustments to release the munition at the optimal moment. The drones are now reportedly capable of striking fast-moving targets with a single drop.

Russia steps up drone defences

Russia has also evolved its defences against the increasingly effective night bombers. While Russian troops initially struggled to counter them in 2022, they now deploy interceptor FPV drones, mobile anti-drone teams and electronic jamming systems.

“The platform becomes particularly vulnerable during massed engagements, where dozens of FPV drones and multiple ground operators may target a single aircraft simultaneously,” says Kolesnyk.

Russian forces are also increasingly using shoulder-launched drone interceptors such as the Yolka system. Yet Kolesnyk claims the Kazhan remains surprisingly durable.

“There have been multiple cases where the platform has successfully survived and returned,” says Kolesnyk. “Even after sustaining damage - such as losing one or even two motors in a hexacopter configuration - the drone can remain operational. This resilience is largely due to the stability and fault tolerance of the Reactive Drone’s flight control system.”

By Nazrin Sadigova