Eight Russian Drone Operators Blinded by Detonating FPV Goggles

Eight Russian drone operators reportedly sustained eye injuries due to explosions involving FPV  goggles, according to the Russian Telegram channel “Dossier Spy” on February 18.

The incidents, which occurred in early February, were linked to the remote detonation of FPV goggles delivered to various Russian military units. Between January and February 2025, around 80 Skyzone Cobra FPV goggles were sent to these units by multiple organizations, all receiving the equipment from a single donor who provided it as humanitarian aid.

The first reported incident occurred on February 4 in the Belgorod region. In this case, a pair of goggles equipped with an improvised device—including C-4, a detonator, and a battery—exploded upon activation of its cooling fan. The incident resulted in injuries to a serviceman’s face and eyes.

Between February 4 and 7, seven additional similar incidents were recorded in the Kursk, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions. In total, eight Russian drone operators were affected by the device, which appears to have been remotely detonated.

Previously, it was reported that Russian telegram channels circulated images and videos purportedly showing a shipment of FPV goggles that had been modified with small explosive charges.