Banderol, Russia’s new low-cost weapon testing Ukraine’s air defences

Russia deployed Banderol munitions in its overnight large-scale attack on Ukraine on Thursday, in what has become Moscow’s growing use of a low-cost weapon designed to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defences. Ukraine’s Air Force said the Banderols were intercepted during a barrage that also included cruise missiles and Shahed-type drones. First recorded in Ukraine in spring 2025, the Banderol has become an increasingly common weapon of Russian attacks. Also known as the S8000, it is a small jet-powered loitering munition that combines features of a cruise missile and a jet-powered attack drone. It is considerably cheaper and carries a smaller warhead…