An adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, Sergey Beskrestnov, has released images of a Russian Geran-type drone, highlighting an unusual feature: what appears to be an air-to-air missile mounted on its body. The object in question resembles the R-60 missile, a design dating back to the mid-1970s.

However, Beskrestnov maintains that the drone is not equipped with an actual combat weapon. He suggests the missile is a mock-up, intended to mislead interceptors and complicate the response of Ukrainian military aviation by creating the impression of an armed aerial threat.

He also points out that while trained pilots in tactical aviation can typically distinguish between a real missile and a decoy, this task is far more challenging for operators of interceptor drones. In his view, this makes it necessary to develop clear indicators that would allow for the rapid identification of drones carrying imitation weapons.

Not everyone within the Ukrainian Armed Forces shares this assessment. Some stress that regardless of whether the missile is real or fake, the drone itself still carries an explosive payload. As such, it remains a legitimate target and cannot be ignored-irrespective of whether it is fitted with a live missile, a decoy, or no additional armament at all.