Whose Drone Crashed in Western Kazakhstan?

In mid-February 2025, a crashed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was discovered on the outskirts of Uyaly village, Bokeyorda district, West Kazakhstan region. Local residents reported finding the 120-centimeter-long drone to authorities, Orda.kz reports.

Speculation

Preliminary assessments suggest the drone’s design resembles the Crecerelle reconnaissance UAV, developed by French company Sagem. However, Ukrainian military experts believe it matches the Russian Orlan-10 drone, commonly used for reconnaissance missions.

The crash site is close to the Russian border and about 250 kilometers from the Kapustin Yar military training ground. After a month of investigation, Kazakh authorities have not provided definitive conclusions.

The timing of the incident coincided with a February 17 drone attack on Russia’s Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar region. 

While authorities have not linked the events, the discovery has likely amplified concerns over the security of strategic infrastructure in the region.

The West Kazakhstan regional police responded to an official inquiry as follows:

The case was initiated under Article 399 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, concerning the illegal production, acquisition or use of special technical means for covert acquisition of information. The necessary examinations have been appointed. According to Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the details of the investigation are not subject to disclosure. 

In response to an inquiry, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense declined to comment, stating that the case falls under the jurisdiction of the regional police, which appears to be handling airspace security in the area.

An anonymous source who previously worked in a division of one of the Kazakh special services in the West Kazakhstan region stated that the drone likely originated from the Russian Kapustin Yar training ground.

We can say with 100% certainty that the drone came from there. There are simply no other suitable facilities nearby. Most likely, the device lost control during the exercises and fell on the territory of Kazakhstan, the source claimed.

Orlan-10

The Orlan-10 UAV is a Russian reconnaissance drone developed by the Special Technological Center. Russia’s armed forces have actively used it for battlefield surveillance, artillery targeting, and reconnaissance missions.

Key specifications:

• Wingspan: ~3 meters
• Weight: Up to 18 kg
• Flight endurance: 16–18 hours
• Speed: Up to 150 km/h
• Control range: ~120 km (longer with autonomous flight)
• Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, the Orlan-10 provides real-time video and data transmission
• Launched by a catapult and lands using a parachute

The drone has been widely used in conflicts, including in Syria and Ukraine, for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike support.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov