Russia’s once-feared lancet drones are turning into a multimillion-dollar failure in Ukraine
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Russia’s Lancet attack drones, once considered among Moscow’s most effective battlefield weapons, are facing questions over their effectiveness after a Russian unit reportedly spent millions of dollars launching the drones with almost no results.
According to pro-Russian militant Pavel Gubarev, Russia’s “Sparta” drone unit launched approximately 100 Lancet loitering munitions over three months, successfully striking only three targets. The operation cost between $3.7 million and $6.1 million. The launches were conducted by a team commanded by Senior Lieutenant Kirill Ozerov, known by the call sign “Nevsky,” during a period beginning in mid-June 2026. Gubarev did not specify where the unit was operating.
Despite deploying around 100 drones, the unit reportedly managed to hit only a self-propelled artillery system, an infantry dugout, and a roadside kiosk—an estimated success rate of just 3%. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted most of the remaining Lancets, while Russian forces destroyed several of their own drones due to poor coordination between units.
Gubarev estimated the cost of each Lancet at between $37,000 and $67,000, bringing the total expenditure to as much as $6.1 million for just three successful strikes.
He also accused the unit’s commanders of deploying expensive drones without adequate preparation while submitting misleading reports about their effectiveness to senior military leadership.
The claims have not been independently verified and describe the performance of a single Russian unit rather than the entire Lancet fleet.
Manufactured by Russia’s ZALA Aero, the Lancet is a loitering munition designed to destroy artillery systems, armored vehicles, and other battlefield targets. It features optical guidance, an explosive warhead, and an estimated operational range of 40–50 kilometers. Earlier, Ukrainian defense adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov reported that Russia had launched up to 40 Lancet drones toward Kyiv in what he described as a largely symbolic operation. He said the strike appeared to be part of an information campaign aimed at demonstrating results to domestic audiences in Russia. According to him, the operation combined Lancet drones with Shahed-type drones to ensure that debris from the attack would be visible in the Ukrainian capital.
He argued that the effort reflects growing pressure on Russian officials to show tangible results as Ukrainian air defenses continue to improve. Beskrestnov said the Lancet system is not designed for long-range strikes, with a typical operational range of 30 to 80 kilometers. To extend that range, he claimed, Russian operators removed the warheads and replaced them with additional batteries.
This allowed a small number of drones to reach Kyiv, though they were unable to inflict meaningful damage.
According to his account, only a handful of drones made it to the city, and their impact was largely symbolic.
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