In the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russian "Sibiryachok-5" drones have begun to be used to combat illegal landfills. In the first weeks of operation, about ten violators have already been apprehended with their help.
The drones conduct video surveillance, identify suspicious trucks, and transmit their coordinates to the regional Ministry of Ecology in real-time. Thanks to a camera with 160x zoom, the equipment can detect vehicles from about a kilometer away, and a thermal imager allows it to operate at night.
"Sibiryachok-5" can stay airborne for up to 90 minutes and move up to 28 km away from the operator. The device can carry up to 4 kg of payload and is capable of automatic takeoff and landing.
According to Rostec, the quadcopter is entirely assembled from Russian components – cameras, circuit boards, controllers, and engines are produced in the country. The drone is designed to operate in heavy rain, snow, and frost down to -30 degrees Celsius.
Even with a complete loss of signal, the device can independently return to its starting point, guided by camera data and odometry. Regional authorities are now considering using such drones permanently – including for monitoring forests and water protection zones of the Volga and Oka rivers.