Ukrainian troops destroy Russia's most expensive drone in Lyman sector

The 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Steel Lions, shared a video on Tuesday, April 8, revealing the destruction of Russia’s most expensive drone.

According to the brigade, the takedown was carried out by the anti-aircraft gunners of the 63rd Brigade, together with their fellow servocemen from the 45th Separate Artillery Brigade named after General Myron Tarnavskyi. 

"Our drone captured rare footage of the target being destroyed at several kilometers altitude. And it wasn't just any target—it was the most expensive Russian reconnaissance drone, the Merlin," commented the 63th brigade.

The cost of the Russian Merlin-VR drone exceeds $300,000, and it can stay airborne for 10 hours, covering a distance of 600 kilometers.

However, as Ukrainian defenders emphasized, this particular drone didn’t get very far.

• Since the beginning of the year, more than 20 new certified models of drones with a fiber-optic control system have appeared in Ukraine.