The key facts

  • Ukrainian media reported on October 21, 2026 about the use of a new Russian drone with a gasoline engine, similar in shape to the Lancet
  • Expert Yuri Knutov: a gasoline engine increases flight range
  • Drawbacks: more noise and thermal radiation than electric vehicles

Report of a new drone

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Ukrainian media reported that Russia has begun using a new unmanned aerial vehicle that resembles the Lancet in shape but is equipped not with an electric, but with a gasoline engine.

Expert's assessment

Military expert Yuri Knutov, in a comment to Gazeta.Ru, named flight range as the main advantage of such a design. According to him, the range can be noticeably increased by boosting engine power and increasing fuel supply, while the charge is retained, and these advantages outweigh the drawbacks.

Drawbacks of the design

Knutov also noted that a drone with a gasoline engine is noisier compared to the electric Lancets and emits more heat, making it easier to detect.

Context

Earlier, Russian troops struck targets in Kyiv and the Kyiv region — this is reported by Gazeta.Ru in the same publication.