Fear and panic gripped Russia’s Belgorod region this week as Ukrainian drones flew low and hit hard, targeting military positions and disrupting movements across the area. From early morning, so-called unidentified FPV drones were spotted circling overhead, unleashing targeted attacks on Russian military convoys and clearing roads in scenes that witnesses described as chaotic.
Videos posted by Russian soldiers themselves captured the aftermath, showing destroyed positions, burnt vehicles and shaken survivors. One soldier grimly reported, “They blew everything up, we are left with nothing.” Footage revealed entire Russian posts reduced to ashes, with debris scattered and no sign of resistance. The intensity of the drone strikes reportedly sent Russian troops scrambling for cover, some filming the wreckage while lamenting the growing scale of Ukraine’s precision strikes.
These attacks come as Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to claim that his so-called special military operation is going according to plan. However, the scenes in Belgorod tell a different story. Russian forces have been forced to abandon some positions, leaving behind bodies of fellow soldiers — uncollected and unacknowledged. Morale appears to be crumbling under pressure, with many troops admitting their defences are increasingly vulnerable.
The psychological impact of Ukraine’s drone tactics is now undeniable. Small and fast, these FPV drones have become key in Ukraine’s strategy to chip away at Russian infrastructure, both in frontline areas and deep inside Russian territory.
