Russia strikes educational institution in Kharkiv with a Molniya drone
Illustrative photo: a drone strike in Kharkiv (kh.dsns.gov.ua)
Russian forces attacked Kharkiv this evening, September 3. A Molniya drone struck the city, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram.
"We have information about a strike by an enemy Molniya UAV on the Nemyshlianskyi district of the city," Terekhov said.
According to him, the consequences of the Russian attack are being clarified.
Later, the mayor specified that the strike hit the premises of an educational institution in the Saltivskyi district. As of now, there are no casualties. Information about possible damage is being clarified.
Molniya drone
The Russian Molniya drone is a cost-effective FPV aircraft-type drone made from cheap materials: plywood, cardboard, foam, and sometimes aluminum tubes.
These drones are equipped with electric motors and can be assembled literally in field conditions: in disassembled form, they can be carried by several people, and assembly at the position takes only a few hours.
The cost of one Molniya is estimated at around 300–800 US dollars, with a flight range of up to 30–40 km and a maximum speed of about 70–90 km/h. Its payload capacity is up to 3–7 kg of explosives, often anti-tank mines TM-62.
The Russian forces regularly use such drones to strike Kharkiv. In particular, on August 1, ten people, including children, were injured in an attack.
