Russian forces repurpose civilian vehicles as launch platforms for kamikaze drones

Defense Express reported the information.

Russian forces continue to use civilian vehicles on the battlefield, including adapting them as mobile launch platforms for kamikaze drones. Russian propaganda channels have recently circulated a video showcasing one such modification — a civilian VAZ-1111 Oka car repurposed to launch the Molniya kamikaze drone.

In the video, the vehicle has been heavily modified: its doors and rear roof have been removed, and a launcher mount has been welded onto the chassis. The footage shows a drone being launched while the crew remains inside the car, although the system reportedly supports remote launching as well.

This kind of field improvisation — adapting civilian vehicles for combat roles — is not new. However, there is no indication yet that this approach has been adopted at scale.

In addition to being used as drone platforms, the same VAZ-1111 Oka has recently been seen used for personnel transport. Russian forces are increasingly deploying civilian vehicles for front-line operations. Reports from the battlefield include sightings of modified cars with barbecue grills, "bukhanka" vans equipped with electronic warfare (EW) systems, and even buses repurposed for military use.

As for the Molniya kamikaze drone itself, Defense Express previously reported on a version — the Molniya-2 — where Russian forces had attached an FPV drone to a strike UAV, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance the system’s effectiveness using inexpensive and widely available components.