Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 2 hrs ago
Ukrainian receiver captures live video from Russian drones
Kyiv startup CODE380 has developed a small receiver that captures live camera video from many Russian drones.
The D·Vision SDR displays the video, which the drones transmit over the air without scrambling it.
This can help Ukrainian units see where a drone is heading and what its pilot is aiming at before it strikes.
The device weighs about 10 ounces, less than half as much as competing Ukrainian models described in the account.
It also receives video on channels used by Russia’s newer Molniya drones, but a radio specialist advising Ukraine’s president has warned that some detectors miss those frequencies.
A switch to digital video could make the receiver ineffective, and some Molniyas reportedly use AI guidance and emit no signals.
CODE380, a Kyiv equipment startup, has developed a pocket-sized receiver that captures live camera video from many Russian drones.
The D·Vision SDR displays the video, allowing Ukrainian units to see where a drone is heading and what its pilot is aiming at.
The drones transmit video without scrambling it, so receivers tuned to the right channels can pick it up.
The device weighs about 10 ounces and can listen on channels used by newer Molniya drones since June.
A radio specialist has warned that digital video could eventually make receivers like this ineffective.
- Who
- CODE380 developed the D·Vision SDR. Ukrainian drone teams can use it to view video from Russian drones.
- What
- A pocket-sized receiver captures and displays live drone camera video.
- When
- The article was published on November 3, 2026. Molniya drones began using the newer video channels in June.
- Where
- CODE380 is based in Kyiv, Ukraine. A specific place of use is not stated.
- Why
- The receiver lets Ukrainian units see where a drone is heading and what its pilot is aiming at.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Newer Molniya drones began using radio channels for video.
Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov warned in a Facebook post that most detectors did not see the newer frequencies well.
The New York Times reported that some Molniyas were AI-guided, used Nvidia chips and emitted no signals.
TechCrunch published an article about CODE380’s D·Vision SDR receiver.
- Developer
- CODE380, a Kyiv equipment startup
- Device
- D·Vision SDR
- Weight
- About 10 ounces
- Video transmission
- Many Russian drones send video over the air without scrambling it
- New channels
- Molniya drones began using them for video in June
- Future limitation
- Digital video could blind receivers like the D·Vision SDR
What people are saying
most detectors don’t see these frequencies, or see them poorly.