THIS is the terrifying moment a Russian 'Kamikaze drone' crashed into a building in a huge fireball as the new weapon is unleashed for the first time.
At least three of the Iran-made drones struck a building believed to house Ukraine's southern command HQ in Odessa today, according to a report.
The footage - released by news channel Visegrad24 - appeared to show a Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drone loitering above a building in the port city before plunging into it, creating a massive fireball in its wake.
Moments later giant plumes of smoke can be seen billowing out of the destroyed building.
Russia claimed it hit the offices of Ukraine's operation command of the southern front, which is fighting a bloody battle to recapture the city of Kherson.
Ukraine said there have been no casualties as a result of the strike.
Kyiv has blasted what it called "a collaboration with evil" and stripped Iran's ambassador to Ukraine of his title over the country's decision to allegedly supply Russian forces with drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least eight of the self-destructing gismos have been shot down since the conflict began in February.
In a late night address, Zelensky said: "Today the Russian army used Iranian drones for its strikes. … The world will know about every instance of collaboration with evil, and it will have corresponding consequences."
Iran has denied the charge.
Military authorities in southern Ukraine said they shot down four Shahed-136s near Odesa on Friday.
The air force also brought down a larger Iranian drone - a Mohajer-6 - which is used for reconnaissance, according to Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.
Unverified footage has also appeared online of a ship towing what's believed to be a Mohajer-6 from waters in southern Ukraine.
The killer Shahed-136 drone - also known as a Heran 2 - were developed as suicide crafts that could loiter above targets before attacking them.
It comes equipped with an explosive warhead and can fly at a range of up to 2,500km at 185km/h.
According to defence-blog.com, they were developed and manufactured by the Iranian defense industry and were unveiled in December 2021.
The unmanned aircraft has a length of 3.5m and a wingspan of 2.5m and weighs 200kg.
According to Defense Express, the aircrafts are not equipped with cameras and are guided by satellite navigation.
