Under the tank: A deadly hideout in the drone-era warfare

The Russian soldier thought he would be safe under the Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank, which had been hit by the enemy somewhere on the front. He was very mistaken. Shortly after he took cover under the machine, a drone was directed towards him. The recording was made by the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which shared their success on the battlefield.

The Russian soldier, realising he was targeted by the drone operator, decided to seek shelter under the wreckage of the Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank. Perhaps he believed this would spare him from death and that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would refrain from striking a vehicle that could be of use to them in the future. His assumptions were incorrect...

The Ukrainian military, upon discovering the Russian aggressor concealed under the vehicle, acted promptly. They directed a combat drone towards him, which detonated shortly after. The outcome of this confrontation was inevitable.

The footage is available on the "X" platform (formerly known as Twitter). It was recorded by the 65th Mechanized Brigade, a component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This brigade was established in 2022, following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, the unit is a pivotal force in the Ukrainian military, defending against Russian aggression.

In the released video, one can see that Ukrainian soldiers utilise real-time battlefield surveillance. This enables the operator to scout the terrain from the drone's perspective, as if they were piloting it in person.

These advanced technological devices not only serve as improvised cruising munitions but are also instrumental in reconnaissance and monitoring enemy movements on the battlefield, facilitating effective strikes.

Drones, such as the one depicted in the video, play a crucial role in combat, enabling the elimination of individual soldiers, as well as infantry fighting vehicles and tanks. In Ukraine, drones are deployed for a broad spectrum of missions, making them essential to military strategy.

From the outset of the conflict, the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine prioritised small and relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft, trained 10,000 operators, and initiated fundraising efforts to amass as much equipment as possible. Today, drones have revolutionised warfare, with Russians learning from their own errors and from the Ukrainians on how to deploy them effectively in combat.