Vlad Litnarovych

Ukrainian Armed Forces targeted the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, one of the country’s main production hubs for Shahed-136 suicide drones—also known by their Russian name, Geran-2. But what made this latest strike stand out wasn’t just the location—it was the weapon.

Russian soldiers have long followed a grim battlefield ritual: rather than riding inside armored vehicles, they ride atop them. While this might seem reckless, it’s often a matter of survival.