Crowdfunded Bayraktar Drone Claims First Kill for Ukraine

A Bayraktar drone, crowdfunded by Lithuanians, has claimed its first kill of a Russian towed howitzer system in Ukraine.

Lithuania’s defense minister Arvydas Anušauskas shared videos on Facebook August 22 showing the drone in combat use. The Bayraktar can be seen landing after completing a combat mission in the first video, while in the second, a Russian 122mm D-30 howitzer can be seen struck by it.

In June, the country’s citizens collected €6 million in three days to buy the drone for Ukraine. The campaign was initiated on May 25 by Lithuanian Andrews Tapinas. It was the first time in history when civilians raised money to buy a combat drone to defend another country.

Turkey’s Baykar, the company that manufactures the drone, offered to provide it to Lithuania for free. After delivery to Ukraine, the Bayraktar was named Vanagas, which translates as Hawk.