Recent footage from the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war highlights the growing influence of drones in modern combat.
The video, captured by a body-mounted camera on a Russian soldier, documents a tense moment when Russian troops attempted to rescue a wounded comrade but were ambushed by Ukrainian drones, according to Digi24.
Crawling on All Fours
The video captures the soldiers calling for additional personnel to help evacuate the injured man.
As they make their move, they realize that Ukrainian drones are targeting their position. In a frantic effort to fend off the aerial threat, the Russian troops open fire with machine guns, aiming to down the drones.
One soldier, filming the action, reloads his weapon after emptying a full magazine but soon falls to the ground after being struck by an explosive charge dropped by a drone.
The soldier, clearly injured, begins crawling away from the attack zone and describes the drone’s impact, saying he was hit by its explosive payload.
Despite his injuries, he urges his fellow soldiers to retreat, all while continuing to drag himself to safety on all fours.
The footage, shared by WarTranslated on X (formerly Twitter), underscores the increasing dominance of drone warfare, as human soldiers find themselves up against an array of unmanned technologies.
The Role of Drones in Ukraine’s Defense
Ukraine has relied heavily on drones throughout the conflict, using them for both reconnaissance and direct assaults on Russian positions.
Some of the most effective drones employed by Ukraine include the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone capable of carrying out precision strikes.
The Bayraktar TB2 has earned a formidable reputation on the battlefield, capable of flying up to 27 hours while delivering high-definition surveillance and striking targets with laser-guided bombs.
Additionally, Ukraine has utilized smaller, commercial drones—many of which are modified to carry grenades or small explosives. These drones, often equipped with first-person view (FPV) cameras, allow operators to guide them directly to their targets in real time.
