Russian UAV Strikes Target Ukrainian Forces, With Drones Used for Reconnaissance and Explosive Attacks
According to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian intelligence units operating in the zone of a special military operation employed unmanned aerial vehicles to engage infantry units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The report, disseminated via TASS, highlights the actions of a reconnaissance detachment within the Southern group of forces, which identified Ukrainian fighters on the battlefield and deployed quadcopters equipped with munitions to conduct targeted strikes.
The ministry’s account describes a sequence where a drone operator launched a quadcopter carrying explosive payloads, navigated toward the enemy position, and, after a brief adjustment period, released a fragmentation grenade launcher payload. The attack purportedly neutralized the target, resulting in enemy casualties. This sequence demonstrates the use of small, agile aerial systems to locate, engage, and destroy hostile forces on the ground, as reported by Russian officials.
In addition to offensive use, the Russian side says drones helped detect several Ukrainian tripwires and improvised explosive devices as AFU units moved into position. The ministry notes that dangerous items were neutralized by detonation after the completion of the primary mission, preventing possible harm to the forces involved or nearby personnel.
The ministry further asserts that Russian servicemen from the Southern group encountered a Ukrainian reconnaissance team during a return from a combat mission. The report claims those Ukrainian troops were using quadcopters with munitions again and that the detachment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was eliminated by Russian forces.
Earlier reports indicated that a crew operating the Russian heavy flamethrower system Solntsepek targeted Ukrainian positions in the Krasnolimansky direction, marking another reported action in the broader conflict landscape as described by Russian officials.
These statements reflect ongoing assertions from Moscow regarding the deployment of unmanned systems in support of ground operations and the ongoing combat dynamics in the region. Independent verification from other sources remains unavailable in the presented material, and the claims are attributed to the acquiring authority for context and situational awareness for readers in Canada and the United States.