The war in Ukraine is bringing revolutionary changes to modern military strategy. After Ukrainian soldiers destroyed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva cruiser, it became clear: the era of large warships is over, UkrInform reports. 

The Moskva proved that a large warship in the Black Sea is an easy target, says Mykola Shcherbakov, commander of a State Border Guard Sea Guard vessel.

“That’s why we need to be small, fast, and maneuverable. I think swarm tactics are what the future holds for us,” he believes.

Shcherbakov is convinced that Ukraine’s navy’s future lies in high automation, mobility, and modular platforms that can be reconfigured for various missions.

“A fleet is always very expensive. But small platforms with modular weaponry, missiles, air defense — that’s the path to success. And support from drones is essential,” he emphasizes.

He adds that the Sea Guard can also assign some tasks to unmanned systems—for example, during reconnaissance missions or in high-risk zones.

“Not all of our tasks require people on board. When it’s about documenting violations or communicating with fishermen, drones can’t replace a human. But when it comes to scouting or assessing the situation, maritime drones would be very appropriate,” Shcherbakov explains.

He says Ukraine has already shown the world its capabilities in unmanned maritime technology.

“There are already sea-based FPV drone variants, vessels equipped with air defense systems — even something resembling mini aircraft carriers that can carry reconnaissance or strike systems,” Shcherbakov notes.

Ukraine is currently at the forefront of using unmanned systems at sea, the Ukrainian commander emphasizes.

A Russian Molniya-2 kamikaze drone was brought down by a Ukrainian FPV drone reportedly using electronic warfare capabilities, footage shared on 9 June showed, according to Militarnyi. 

The video shows the Russian Molniya-2 drone losing control as a Ukrainian interceptor approached. Militarnyi reports that this suggests the use of an onboard electronic warfare (EW) system, which jammed the UAV’s control signals and forced it to crash. The operators of Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces reportedly executed this interception using a non-contact approach.

Rising use of EW against cheap Russian drones

This is not the first known incident of a Ukrainian drone using EW methods to down a Russian UAV. Similar interceptions of Molniya drones were previously noted starting in mid-March, with a growing frequency through April and May. 

One likely vulnerability in the Molniya-2 drones is the use of ERLS control systems with active telemetry, allowing the detection of the UAV’s control frequencies. Ukrainian forces have reportedly exploited this flaw by emitting targeted jamming in narrow frequency bands. This method does not require high-power systems and can be deployed directly from the intercepting drone.

Cheap design and battlefield adaptability of Molniya-2

The Molniya-2 is a fixed-wing kamikaze drone developed as a low-cost, mass-produced weapon. Its construction involves foam, plastic, aluminum tubing, and wooden components. Electronics and engines are mostly standardized with FPV drones.

The Molniya-2 can fly up to 60 kilometers and reach speeds of 120 km/h. Its payload varies depending on the launch method. The drone can carry explosive charges or a TM-62 mine weighing up to 10 kilograms, according to Russian state media.

Militarnyi had earlier reported that Russian forces began adapting Molniya drones to serve as carriers for FPV drones.