“This is how the ‘Lancet in Kyiv’ information campaign is born,” Beskrestnov said.
“To this end, they are preparing a full-scale operation involving Shaheds and Lancets. The goal is to show the people of Russia and the country’s leadership fragments of the Lancet in Kyiv at any cost.”
Russia allegedly decided to use the electric Lancet specifically because “the hype surrounding it in Russia had died down, and the manufacturers needed a good story to justify new purchases.”
“To that end, they’re launching 40 Lancets at Kyiv,” the defense minister’s advisor wrote.
“Just imagine, our enemy is wasting 40 expensive weapons, which are intended for other missions, just for show. They’re adding Shaheds with Lancet fragments to the mix, and in the morning this whole swarm is heading for Kyiv.”
Since the Lancet is a short-range strike weapon with a range of 30–80 kilometers, Russian forces have to wait for favorable winds blowing toward the Ukrainian capital, identify the point closest to Kyiv, and launch from there.
“The chances of a standard Lancet drone flying 200 km to Kyiv are zero,” says the expert.
“That’s why they’re removing the warhead from the Lancets and installing an extra battery in its place. They’re replacing the batteries with expensive ones using new technology,”
Only a few units from the entire swarm of drones made it to Kyiv, causing no damage, but “a piece of debris did end up on Maidan.”
“We are grateful to the Russian Federation for this operation because:
1. These 40 Lancet drones could have caused serious damage by attacking our equipment and personnel on the front lines or at power substations.
2. We have once again refined our tactics for detecting and countering small aerial targets.
3. We have the opportunity to examine the electronics of the downed Lancet drones," Beskrestnov wrote.
Early on March 16, Russia attacked Kyiv and the region with drones and several missiles, most likely intercepted on approach. Explosions rang out in the capital as air defenses operated; debris fell in several districts, including central Kyiv near the Independence Monument on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
The military portal Defense Express reported that wreckage near the monument belonged to a Lancet drone possibly equipped with artificial intelligence, citing ongoing analysis of fragments.
Beskrestnov rejected that claim, insisting no Lancet can physically reach Kyiv due to limited battery and radio-control range. He said investigation of radio signals, radar data and interceptor-drone photos continues.