diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 16e814f..46b1740 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ jobs:
   # to catch packaging errors early. Skipped if lint fails to save CI minutes.
   test:
     needs: lint
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Ubuntu 26.04 (the current ubuntu-latest) does not provide Python 3.9
+    # through actions/setup-python. Pin the matrix runner while Python 3.9 is
+    # part of the SDK's supported version range.
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     strategy:
       matrix:
         python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8695653..e23adae 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -499,11 +499,9 @@ With proxy, use `GeeTestTask` (same proxy fields as reCAPTCHA v2).
 <sup>[API method description.](https://captcha-solver.com/en/docs/captcha-types#yandex-smartcaptcha)</sup>
 
 Use this method to solve the token-based Yandex SmartCaptcha and obtain a token
-for the widget on the target page. Use the coordinates method for image challenges.
+for the widget on the target page. Use the dedicated image method for image challenges.
 
-`YandexSmartCaptchaTaskProxyless` / `YandexSmartCaptchaTask` -- token-based
-challenge. For the image challenge instead, use `CoordinatesTask` with
-[Coordinates](#coordinates-click-captcha) is available for generic click captchas.
+`YandexSmartCaptchaTaskProxyless` / `YandexSmartCaptchaTask` -- token-based challenge.
 
 | Parameter | Required | Description |
 |---|---|---|
@@ -532,15 +530,45 @@ print(result["token"])
 With proxy, use `YandexSmartCaptchaTask` (same proxy fields as reCAPTCHA v2,
 plus the `https` option above).
 
+#### Image challenge
+
+Use `YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask` when SmartCaptcha shows a main image and a
+separate strip indicating the symbols to click. The SDK sends API v2 type
+`SmartCaptchaTask`; both images must be base64-encoded.
+
+| Parameter | Required | Description |
+|---|---|---|
+| `image` | yes | Main captcha image, base64-encoded. |
+| `imgInstructions` | yes | Click-order instruction image, base64-encoded. |
+| `comment` | no | Optional text hint for the worker. |
+
+**Response:** `coordinates` -- ordered `{"x": int, "y": int}` click positions.
+
+```python
+import base64
+from captcha_solver_api import CaptchaClient
+from captcha_solver_api.tasks import YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask
+
+with open("captcha.png", "rb") as f:
+    image = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode("utf-8")
+with open("instructions.png", "rb") as f:
+    instructions = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode("utf-8")
+
+task = YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask(
+    image=image,
+    imgInstructions=instructions,
+)
+result = CaptchaClient("your_api_key").solve(task)
+print(result["coordinates"])
+```
+
 ### Coordinates (click captcha)
 
 <sup>[API method description.](https://captcha-solver.com/en/docs/captcha-types#coordinates)</sup>
 
-Use this method to identify points that a worker should click in an image. It
-supports generic click captchas and the image version of Yandex SmartCaptcha.
+Use this method to identify points that a worker should click in a generic image.
 
-`CoordinatesTask`. Used both for generic "click on X" captchas and for Yandex
-SmartCaptcha's image challenge. No proxy variant -- the image is submitted directly.
+`CoordinatesTask`. No proxy variant -- the image is submitted directly.
 
 | Parameter | Required | Description |
 |---|---|---|
@@ -718,7 +746,8 @@ Avoid importing it by name: it shadows Python's built-in `TimeoutError`.
 See the dedicated [examples documentation](https://github.com/captcha-solver-api/python-sdk/blob/main/examples/README.md) for the full
 sync/async example list, setup steps, expected results, and placeholder guidance.
 
-- **Image/click captchas** (`image_to_text.py`, `coordinates.py`) run after installing the dependencies and setting a valid
+- **Image/click captchas** (`image_to_text.py`, `coordinates.py`,
+  `yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py`) run after installing the dependencies and setting a valid
   `CAPTCHA_API_KEY` -- they read sample images bundled in
   [examples/assets](https://github.com/captcha-solver-api/python-sdk/tree/main/examples/assets), no target page needed.
   `python-dotenv` is optional: install it only if you want the scripts to load a `.env` file.
@@ -743,6 +772,7 @@ export CAPTCHA_API_KEY=your_api_key
 python examples/sync/balance.py
 python examples/sync/image_to_text.py
 python examples/sync/coordinates.py
+python examples/sync/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
 ```
 
 Live checks with real parameters have exercised all supported task types.
diff --git a/captcha_solver_api/tasks.py b/captcha_solver_api/tasks.py
index 5df677e..0f7a500 100644
--- a/captcha_solver_api/tasks.py
+++ b/captcha_solver_api/tasks.py
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ def __init__(
 
 class CoordinatesTask(BaseTask):
     """Coordinate-based (click) image captcha. No proxy variant -- the image
-    is submitted directly.
+    is submitted directly. Use this task for generic click captchas.
 
     Args:
         body: The captcha image, base64-encoded (no `data:image/...;base64,` prefix).
@@ -832,6 +832,31 @@ def __init__(
         self.maxClicks = maxClicks
 
 
+class YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask(BaseTask):
+    """Image-based Yandex SmartCaptcha using API v2 ``SmartCaptchaTask``.
+
+    Args:
+        image: Main SmartCaptcha challenge image, base64-encoded.
+        imgInstructions: Click-order instruction image, base64-encoded.
+        comment: Optional text hint for the worker.
+
+    Returns (``solution`` from ``solve()``):
+        ``coordinates`` -- an ordered list of ``{"x": int, "y": int}`` points.
+    """
+
+    type = "SmartCaptchaTask"
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        image: str,
+        imgInstructions: str,
+        comment: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.image = image
+        self.imgInstructions = imgInstructions
+        self.comment = comment
+
+
 class TencentTaskProxyless(BaseTask):
     """Tencent captcha without proxy.
 
diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
index 00057ac..43772f8 100644
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ Each supported CAPTCHA type has a matching sync and async script:
 | GeeTest v3 | [geetest_v3.py](sync/geetest_v3.py) | [geetest_v3.py](async/geetest_v3.py) | `challenge`, `validate`, `seccode` |
 | GeeTest v4 | [geetest_v4.py](sync/geetest_v4.py) | [geetest_v4.py](async/geetest_v4.py) | `captcha_output` and related fields |
 | Yandex SmartCaptcha token | [yandex_smartcaptcha.py](sync/yandex_smartcaptcha.py) | [yandex_smartcaptcha.py](async/yandex_smartcaptcha.py) | `token` |
+| Yandex SmartCaptcha image | [yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py](sync/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py) | [yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py](async/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py) | `coordinates` |
 | Coordinates / click captcha | [coordinates.py](sync/coordinates.py) | [coordinates.py](async/coordinates.py) | `coordinates` |
 | Tencent | [tencent.py](sync/tencent.py) | [tencent.py](async/tencent.py) | `appid`, `ret`, `ticket`, `randstr` |
 
diff --git a/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-image.png b/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-image.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92addc3
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-image.png differ
diff --git a/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-instructions.png b/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-instructions.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..80cf090
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/assets/yandex-smartcaptcha-instructions.png differ
diff --git a/examples/async/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py b/examples/async/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a89202c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/async/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Example: Solve an image-based Yandex SmartCaptcha asynchronously.
+
+Prerequisites:
+    Set the CAPTCHA_API_KEY environment variable.
+    The sample captcha and instruction images are bundled in examples/assets/.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import os
+import sys
+from base64 import b64encode
+
+try:
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
+    if exc.name != "dotenv":
+        raise
+    load_dotenv = None
+
+repo_root = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))))
+sys.path.append(repo_root)
+if load_dotenv is not None:
+    load_dotenv(os.path.join(repo_root, ".env"))
+
+from captcha_solver_api import AsyncCaptchaClient
+from captcha_solver_api.tasks import YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask
+
+
+def encode_image(filename: str) -> str:
+    """Return an image from examples/assets as a Base64 string."""
+    path = os.path.join(repo_root, "examples", "assets", filename)
+    with open(path, "rb") as image_file:
+        return b64encode(image_file.read()).decode("utf-8")
+
+
+async def main() -> None:
+    api_key = os.getenv("CAPTCHA_API_KEY", "YOUR_API_KEY")
+    async with AsyncCaptchaClient(api_key) as solver:
+        result = await solver.solve(
+            YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask(
+                image=encode_image("yandex-smartcaptcha-image.png"),
+                imgInstructions=encode_image("yandex-smartcaptcha-instructions.png"),
+            )
+        )
+    # Click the returned points on the captcha image in the listed order.
+    # Example: {"coordinates": [{"x": 73, "y": 92}, ...]}
+    print("result: " + str(result))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        asyncio.run(main())
+    except Exception as exc:
+        sys.exit(exc)
diff --git a/examples/sync/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py b/examples/sync/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9973cdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sync/yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""Example: Solve an image-based Yandex SmartCaptcha.
+
+Prerequisites:
+    Set the CAPTCHA_API_KEY environment variable.
+    The sample captcha and instruction images are bundled in examples/assets/.
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+from base64 import b64encode
+
+try:
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
+    if exc.name != "dotenv":
+        raise
+    load_dotenv = None
+
+repo_root = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))))
+sys.path.append(repo_root)
+if load_dotenv is not None:
+    load_dotenv(os.path.join(repo_root, ".env"))
+
+from captcha_solver_api import CaptchaClient
+from captcha_solver_api.tasks import YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask
+
+
+def encode_image(filename: str) -> str:
+    """Return an image from examples/assets as a Base64 string."""
+    path = os.path.join(repo_root, "examples", "assets", filename)
+    with open(path, "rb") as image_file:
+        return b64encode(image_file.read()).decode("utf-8")
+
+
+api_key = os.getenv("CAPTCHA_API_KEY", "YOUR_API_KEY")
+solver = CaptchaClient(api_key)
+
+try:
+    result = solver.solve(
+        YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask(
+            image=encode_image("yandex-smartcaptcha-image.png"),
+            imgInstructions=encode_image("yandex-smartcaptcha-instructions.png"),
+        )
+    )
+    # Click the returned points on the captcha image in the listed order.
+    # Example: {"coordinates": [{"x": 73, "y": 92}, ...]}
+    print("result: " + str(result))
+except Exception as exc:
+    sys.exit(exc)
diff --git a/tests/sync/test_coordinates.py b/tests/sync/test_coordinates.py
index d9509b2..ab26984 100644
--- a/tests/sync/test_coordinates.py
+++ b/tests/sync/test_coordinates.py
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ def test_to_dict(self):
     def test_with_click_limits(self):
         task = CoordinatesTask(
             body="base64string",
+            imgInstructions="base64instructions",
             minClicks=1,
             maxClicks=5,
         )
         result = task.to_dict()
 
+        assert result["imgInstructions"] == "base64instructions"
         assert result["minClicks"] == 1
         assert result["maxClicks"] == 5
 
diff --git a/tests/sync/test_yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py b/tests/sync/test_yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f308ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sync/test_yandex_smartcaptcha_image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+"""Tests for YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask."""
+
+from captcha_solver_api.tasks import YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask
+
+
+class TestYandexSmartCaptchaImage:
+    def test_to_dict_uses_api_v2_task_type(self):
+        task = YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask(
+            image="captcha-image",
+            imgInstructions="instruction-image",
+            comment="click the symbols in the specified order",
+        )
+
+        assert task.to_dict() == {
+            "type": "SmartCaptchaTask",
+            "image": "captcha-image",
+            "imgInstructions": "instruction-image",
+            "comment": "click the symbols in the specified order",
+        }
+
+    def test_optional_comment_is_omitted(self):
+        task = YandexSmartCaptchaImageTask("captcha-image", "instruction-image")
+        assert "comment" not in task.to_dict()