The Lancet, the low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle used in this attack, has become a particular problem for Ukrainian troops along the front lines.
“Our intelligence tells us they [Russia] have started investing more in the production of these drones,” Yuriy Sak, an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, told The Telegraph.
“To understand why they are a concern to us, anything that is capable of damaging our equipment or posing a risk to our troops is a concern to us.”
“Without giving the Russians credit, it’s not a bad bit of kit,” the official added.
A small, angular grey tube with two sets of x-shaped wings, the Lancet is capable of destroying vehicles many times its size and value.
Russian pro-war bloggers have seized on the apparent success the weapon has had in destroying hardware donated to Kyiv by its Western backers, such as Leopard 2 tanks and the French Caesar howitzer.
The new version of the single-use Lancet has a range of about 30 miles, with a warhead that detonates on impact.
Often working in a pair with a second spotter drone, it is piloted via a joystick, much like a computer game, and has the ability to loiter in the sky until a target exposes itself.
They are not known to contain infrared or satellite navigation systems, making them far cruder than the Iranian-made Shaded drones.
Its warhead, around one to two kilograms, is relatively small, making it significantly less deadly than an artillery shell or high-precision missile.
However, they have become a thorn in the side for Ukrainian artillerymen, with many describing them as one of the main threats on the battlefield.
There is no easy way to defend against the drones because of their ability to manoeuvre.
