Cheaper than a missile, just as hard to down — Russia's Banderol munition adds strain to Ukraine's air defenses

Ukraine faces a drastically escalating threat from Russia's "Banderol" — a hybrid loitering munition combining features of a cruise missile and a jet-powered drone. Capable of speeds over 500 km/h, it accounted for roughly 80% of recent attacks on Odesa’s food infrastructure.

"The enemy is getting a tool that has a profile similar to a cruise missile, but is several times cheaper and easier to use," aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi told the Kyiv Independent.

Photo: militarnyi.