Ukrainian Armed Forces demonstrate the operation of Vampire drones near Bakhmut: why Russians are so afraid of them (video)
The unmanned bomber easily hits armored vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces, dropping powerful munitions at any time of the day or night.
Ukrainian Vampire drones, which the Russian military has already nicknamed “Baba Yaga,” inflict heavy losses on the occupiers near Bakhmut. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine demonstrated their use in a video posted on November 28 on the official page of the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The Vampire is the Ukrainian night bomber drone that became the Russians’ nightmare.
📹: @United24media pic.twitter.com/LACp0B4gbv
– Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 28, 2023
The published footage shows the work of drone operators of the CODE 9.2. of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after A.A. Kuznetsov. Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko in the dark at his positions. They attach ammunition to a large unmanned aerial vehicle and send the equipment to the enemy’s location. There, a Ukrainian drone is dropping ammunition and thus destroying large and expensive equipment of the Russian Armed Forces.
What is known about the Ukrainian Vampire UAV
According to the ministry, these UAVs are capable of flying fast – usually at a speed of about 23 meters per second – and carrying heavy explosive devices to enemy targets. Vampire is equipped with thermal imagers that allow operators to identify and target the enemy at night. Some other UAVs also have thermal imaging capabilities, but the ability to fly both day and night with heavy ammunition makes the Vampire a valuable technical acquisition for the Ukrainian army.
The Vampire bomber drones have already become such a problem for the Russian army that they have earned a menacing nickname among its troops – “Baba Yaga.” At one time, Russian propaganda Telegram channels even spread information that this Ukrainian drone was capable of “stealing sleeping soldiers” because it was so powerful that it could supposedly easily lift a payload weighing as much as an adult.
Features of the Vampire drone
- flight range – 10 km;
- communication range – 6 km;
- Flight altitude – 400 meters;
- Speed: up to 40 km/h with full load, 80 km/h without load;
- Flight time: 37 minutes without load and 23 minutes with 10 kg of weight.
In combat, the drone destroys the occupiers’ warehouses, manpower and vehicles. Our pilots use this heavy drone mainly at night to be less visible. In the afternoon, they test it with new explosives. The drone operates autonomously: operators specify the coordinates, the drone flies to the target, drops the ammunition, and then returns on its own. “Baba Yaga can carry a payload of up to 20 kilograms. The Baba Yaga drone is usually equipped with several radio channels protected from navigation interference at different frequencies. When fully loaded, the drone rises no higher than 30 meters and flies at a speed of no more than 40 km/h.
