In full between Ukraine and Russiadrones have become one of the most decisive weapons in the conflict. Air superiority no longer depends solely on fighters or missiles, but on unmanned devices capable of monitoring, attacking and operating for hours without being detected.
In this scenario, kyiv has taken a new step in its strategy of transparency and international denunciation by publishing detailed information about the one of the most advanced UAVs in Moscow’s arsenal. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has published a three-dimensional model of this device, also known as Inokhodetsalong with information about 43 companies involved in its manufacturing.
As of early 2025, Russia has already begun deploying these drones in the Black Sea to counter the growing threat from Ukrainian naval drones. It was reported that it was launched from a Russian warshipin what would be “the first documented case of Russian forces using a naval asset to deploy drones capable of destroying “, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The Orion, manufactured by the Russian Kronstadt group, currently sanctioned, is an attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a payload capacity of up to 250 kilograms. Weighs close to a tonowns straight wings and a peculiar V-shaped tail.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explains that the UAV can be equipped with “systems of aerial photographymodules radio recognitionguided bombs KAB-20missiles X-50 y UAV Xamong others”. In addition, it transports the new Russian cruise missile S8000 ‘Banderol’whose components were previously identified by Ukrainian military intelligence.
Regarding its operation, it has a operational range up to 250 kilometersexpandable to 300 with repeater, and a flight autonomy of 30 hoursmaking it a key long-range surveillance and attack tool. Because of these benefits, the Russian media nicknamed him the ‘Bayraktar assassin’in reference to the Turkish-made one that gained notoriety at the beginning of the war.
However, Ukrainian intelligence services warn that manufacturing of the system in Russia remains fragile, as it relies heavily on imported parts and from companies that have not yet been reached by international sanctions.
A threat “to the civilized world”
Regarding these 43 Russian companies involved in the industrial cooperation that allows the production of the Orion, the note highlights that “a third of these companies are not currently subject to sanctions by any of the countries in the sanctioning coalition”, which could facilitate the continuity of supplies and “the prolongation of the war against Ukraine.
Among the companies identified are manufacturers of optoelectronic systems, ground communication stations y composite materials used in the aircraft structure. kyiv warns that developments like Orion “represent a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the civilized world“, since their technologies could be transferred to Moscow’s allies such as Iran or North Korea, increasing the risk of their military use in other conflicts.
In this sense, the statement concludes with a call to toughen sanctions against Russia: “Companies that supply products to the Russian military-industrial complex must be isolated from international supply chains of raw materials and components“. “The synchronization of sanctions and control of their application are key mechanisms to deprive the aggressor of access to critical technologies,” he adds.
