Ukrainian forces destroy rare Russian Orion drone: Footage
Photo: Russian Orion strike and reconnaissance drone (Russian media)
Ukrainian Armed Forces troops have taken down a dangerous Russian Orion drone worth $5 million, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade on Facebook.
Ukrainian forces shoot down Russian Orion drone
The Ukrainian unit Prybultsi (Aliens) used an interceptor drone to take down a Russian Orion UAV — a rare and expensive drone.
The brigade said the drone can carry aerial bombs and Banderol strike cruise missiles, which have been used to terrorize Ukrainian cities.
"It is not easy to shoot it down. But the pilots of the Prybultsi air defense missile unit of the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade tracked down, chased and destroyed the enemy's 'bird'," the statement said.
The soldiers added that this was the second time an interceptor drone had shot down a Russian Orion drone.
Ukrainian Armed Forces troops have taken down a dangerous Russian Orion drone worth $5 million pic.twitter.com/o8qAVBgBy4
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) July 16, 2026
What is known about the Orion drone
Russia is scaling up production of the Banderol cruise missile. The missile is currently launched from Orion UAVs.
On April 2, Ukrainian forces struck a storage facility in occupied Crimea containing rare Russian Orion drones. An An-72P aircraft and a radar station were also hit.
In September 2025, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces shot down a Russian Orion strike and reconnaissance drone. The operation was reported by the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi.
