MOSCOW, July 28. /TASS/. Russia's use of the new Banderol cruise missiles indicates the deployment of a new high-precision weapon carrier in the special military operation zone in Ukraine, namely the Orion strike and reconnaissance drone, from which the missile was launched, Alexander Stepanov, an expert at the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), told TASS.

"This is a new type of missile weapon, probably a cheaper version and more widespread in terms of production potential, the carrier of which is the Orion strike and reconnaissance drone. <…> And this indicates that new high-precision air-to-surface weapon carriers have appeared on the front," Stepanov said, citing open-source information about the missile. He added that the missile has a fairly powerful warhead and is capable of penetrating fortified areas and striking important targets on the line of engagement. Its speed of about 650 km/h makes it difficult to intercept from the ground and puts its capabilities on par with the turbojet version of the Geran-4 Seeker drone, the expert noted.

Earlier, the Voyennoye Obozreniye (Military Review) publication released a video of a Banderol strike on targets in Kharkov.