Russian forces have been repairing and reusing captured Ukrainian heavy drones, including the Ukrainian-made Vampire, known in Russian military terminology as "Baba Yaga". Ukrainian and open-source reporting says Russia has developed repair facilities and a supply chain for replacement components, including 3D-printed parts, to return damaged captured drones to service.

On August 9, Russian sources reported that more than 170 captured Ukrainian Vampire drones had been repaired and repurposed for use against Ukrainian positions. According to the report, some of the refurbished drones have already been deployed in combat.

The Vampire is a Ukrainian heavy strike hexacopter used for missions including dropping munitions, remote mining, reconnaissance and logistics. Russia has struggled to field comparable heavy drone systems, making captured Ukrainian aircraft a useful battlefield resource.

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