Ukrainian forces receive new locally made kamikaze drones

A Ukrainian charity organization has delivered a batch of newly developed kamikaze drones to the country’s armed forces, reinforcing their capability to strike Russian positions.

According to the foundation, Come Back Alive, the drones—designated as the SETH UAS—are a locally produced loitering munition designed to provide frontline units with a more cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional long-range strike weapons.

The first batch has already been deployed on the Toretsk frontline, where they are being actively used in combat.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

Unlike Iran’s Shahed-136 drones, which Russia frequently deploys against Ukrainian infrastructure, the SETH UAS features a smaller frame and operates via direct visual control rather than pre-programmed GPS coordinates. This allows for greater precision in targeting and real-time adaptability on the battlefield.

Photo courtesy of Come Back Alive

Additionally, the drone has a smaller operational range, making it suitable for targeted strikes in close combat scenarios.

Come Back Alive emphasized that the drone is easy to use and fully automated, making it highly accessible to frontline operators.

Photo courtesy of Come Back Alive

“Operators will now be able to hunt down enemy forces, their weapons, and equipment even more effectively,” the organization said.

This latest addition to Ukraine’s arsenal reflects the country’s growing reliance on indigenous drone production as it seeks to counter Russia’s persistent air and artillery attacks.

Ukraine’s increased use of FPV and kamikaze drones has already had a major impact on the battlefield, allowing forces to disrupt enemy supply lines and neutralize armored vehicles with pinpoint strikes.

Readers who wish to follow our weekly coverage can subscribe to the Weekly Defense Roundup.

If you wish to report a grammatical or factual error in this article, please let us know by using the online form.

Executive Editor

Support The Defence Blog

Independent reporting takes resources. Join us on Patreon.

Become a patron

More Like This

Ukraine and Sweden sign Gripen E fighter purchase deal

Sweden and Ukraine signed an agreement covering the procurement of fighter jets for Ukraine's Air Force, with deliveries set to begin in early 2029,...

U.S. Army Reserve tests Pyka’s autonomous cargo aircraft in live exercise

Pyka's autonomous cargo aircraft DropShip flew a 32 km (20-mile) resupply mission entirely without a human pilot from Gulfport to Diamondhead, Mississippi, then executed...

Mayman Aerospace CEO: autonomous drones must replace helicopters in contested battlespace

At 3 a.m. in a contested forward operating base, a patrol thirty kilometres out is taking casualties. They need blood, plasma, and ammunition, not...

Russian officials accused of stealing $6M from naval base project

Russian investigators have opened criminal cases alleging officials and contractors stole approximately 500 million rubles ($6.4 million) earmarked for constructing naval infrastructure at the...

AEVEX wins $50M deal for GPS-resistant strike drones

AEVEX Corp. secured a $50 million contract from the United States Air Force on June 30, 2026, to continue expanding unmanned mission-support capabilities for...