diff --git a/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/create.yml b/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/create.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a1f1d1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/create.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+---
+- name: Manage LXD containers and set Pulumi ESC
+  hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  connection: local
+  become: true
+  vars:
+    molecule_inventory:
+      molecule:
+        hosts: {}
+    molecule_yml:
+      platforms:
+        - name: instance
+          image_fingerprint: "noble"
+          architecture: x86_64
+          user: ansible
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Check if LXD is installed
+      ansible.builtin.command: lxd --version
+      register: lxd_check
+      ignore_errors: true
+
+    - name: Fail if LXD is not installed
+      ansible.builtin.fail:
+        msg: |
+          LXD is not installed on this system.
+          Please install LXD before running this playbook.
+          For installation instructions, visit: https://linuxcontainers.org/lxd/getting-started-cli/
+      when: lxd_check.rc != 0
+
+    - name: Check if LXD is initialized
+      ansible.builtin.command: lxd waitready --timeout=5
+      register: lxd_initialized
+      ignore_errors: true
+
+    - name: Fail if LXD is not initialized
+      ansible.builtin.fail:
+        msg: "LXD is not initialized or not ready. Please run 'sudo lxd init' manually."
+      when: lxd_initialized.rc != 0
+
+    - name: Get ESC from Pulumi
+      ansible.builtin.command: esc open deeep-network/dev/services --format dotenv
+      changed_when: false
+      register: pulumi_esc
+
+    - name: Ensure cloud-init directory exists
+      ansible.builtin.file:
+        path: /etc/cloud
+        state: directory
+
+    - name: Write Pulumi ESC to cloud-init file
+      ansible.builtin.blockinfile:
+        path: /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d/01-pulumi-esc.cfg
+        block: |
+          # Pulumi ESC Configuration
+          {{ pulumi_esc.stdout }}
+
+    - name: Check if LXD container exists
+      ansible.builtin.command: lxc list "{{ platform['name'] }}" --format=json
+      register: lxd_container_info
+      ignore_errors: true
+      loop: "{{ molecule_yml['platforms'] }}"
+      loop_control:
+        loop_var: platform
+
+    - name: Debug container existence
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        var: lxd_container_info
+
+    - name: Create LXD containers if not exists using lxc launch
+      ansible.builtin.command: >
+        lxc launch ubuntu:{{ platform['image_fingerprint'] }} {{ platform['name'] }}
+      args:
+        creates: /var/lib/lxd/lxd.db
+      when: lxd_container_info.results[0].stdout == '[]'
+      loop: "{{ molecule_yml['platforms'] }}"
+      loop_control:
+        loop_var: platform
diff --git a/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/destroy.yml b/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/destroy.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..16069602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/molecule/shared/substrate/lxd/destroy.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+- name: Destroy LXD containers using command module
+  hosts: all
+  gather_facts: false
+  become: true
+  vars:
+    molecule_yml:
+      platforms:
+        - name: instance
+          user: ansible
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Check if LXD container exists
+      ansible.builtin.command: lxc list "{{ platform['name'] }}" --format=json
+      register: lxd_container_info
+      ignore_errors: true
+      loop: "{{ molecule_yml['platforms'] }}"
+      loop_control:
+        loop_var: platform
+
+    - name: Debug container existence
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        var: lxd_container_info
+
+    - name: Destroy LXD containers if exists using lxc delete
+      ansible.builtin.command: >
+        lxc delete {{ platform['name'] }} --force
+      when: lxd_container_info.results[0].stdout != '[]'
+      loop: "{{ molecule_yml['platforms'] }}"
+      loop_control:
+        loop_var: platform