The inevitable strike of the buzzing «bird».»
In the new edition of the segment #operators – a story about the combat operations of the gunner of the ZALA «Lancet» tank, whose call sign is «Artist». He is serving in a separate Guards motorised rifle brigade of the ‘North’ military group.
Air scouts discovered enemy armour movements, and the reconnaissance-strike complex crew needs to strike the identified target. From a pre-prepared position, anmunition nicknamed «The nightmare of the AFU» is removed from a plastic case. In a matter of minutes, special consoles are attached to it – the ammunition takes on the outline of a missile with double X-shaped fins.
«Lancet» is precisely how its creators named this loitering munition, due to its ability to strike the enemy with surgical precision. During the special military operation, it has «become acquainted» with almost all types of military equipment produced by NATO countries, becoming a real headache for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
After the catapult fires, the Lancet soars into the air. Its double tail fin allows it to manoeuvre in both planes, and indeed the loitering munition looks like a graceful bird in the sky. Its wings are spread wide as if having mastered the wind, casting aside boundaries and conventions. This is no mere bird; it is a true predator. When it dives on its target, it accelerates sharply, reaching tremendous speed. It is impossible to shoot down the Lancet at this point.
There are about ten kilometres to the discovered armoured vehicles of the Ukrainian neo-Nazis. A loitering munition can cover this distance in a few minutes. The materials it is made from do not reflect radio signals, and the electric motor is practically silent – no radar station can detect a «Lancet» flying in the sky.
And the enemy's electronic warfare (EW) systems are powerless against it – the target's route and characteristics are already programmed in, the strike drone will find and hit enemy equipment itself, so operator involvement in flight control is not necessary.
«The Lancet is in position – somewhere beneath it is the armour of Ukrainian neo-Nazis. The »Nightmare of the AFU« hovers in the air, allowing the operator to choose the right moment for maximum attack effectiveness. The Chekhovian pause is observed, and the Lancet dives like a kite onto its prey. The munition, plummeting from the sky, slams into the armoured vehicle at enormous speed. An explosion, flames, clouds of smoke – the target is destroyed, the mission accomplished. The »Artist« crew quickly vacates the position.
The use of loitering munitions in the course of the SMO is constantly increasing. They have become indispensable assistants for Russian servicemen at the front, showing high indicators of combat effectiveness. No matter how the VSU hide their equipment, no matter what obstacles of electronic warfare and air defence systems they erect in the path of the «Lancet», it will still reach its target and certainly destroy it. And the fact that the enemy has nicknamed the strike drones «the Nightmare of the VSU» is the best reward and recognition of the merits for «Artist» and other operators of loitering munitions.
According to materials from the newspaper «On Guard for the Motherland» of July 28, 2025, No. 58
