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FPV Drones, Fake Death, Real Payoff: How Ukraine Outsmarted Russian Intelligence
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Ukraine’s military intelligence has revealed footage from a sophisticated deception operation in which it staged the apparent killing of Denis “WhiteRex” Kapustin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), using FPV drones, according to details released by the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) on January 2.
The multi-stage operation was designed to protect Kapustin’s life while simultaneously exposing a hostile Russian intelligence network that had ordered his assassination.
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To make the story credible, Ukrainian intelligence produced a video showing what appeared to be a real drone strike. In the footage, one FPV drone is seen slamming into a minibus carrying Kapustin, while a second drone films the aftermath—capturing the vehicle engulfed in flames.
The sequence was carefully choreographed: the first drone strikes the vehicle just as a man enters it, and moments later, another drone records the burning wreckage, reinforcing the illusion of a successful hit.
⚡️Ukraine’s military intelligence released the video it used to fake the death of a Russian volunteer commander.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) January 2, 2026
HUR says the staged drone strike footage fooled Russians into believing Denis Kapustin was killed, triggering a $500,000 payout. pic.twitter.com/qhHb1ChJok
According to Ukrainian intelligence officials, the Russian security services accepted the footage as genuine and believed the assassination had been carried out.
The deception went even further. Russian operatives reportedly paid $500,000 for the supposed killing. HUR said those funds were intercepted and will now be used to significantly strengthen the combat capabilities of Ukrainian special operations units.
The Russian Volunteer Corps was formed in 2022 and consists of Russian nationals who chose to fight on Ukraine’s side. Later that year, a “Civic Council” made up of public figures from nine Russian regions announced the recruitment of volunteers into national units within Ukraine’s armed forces, including the RDK.
Recruitment into the unit has included Russian prisoners of war as well as ethnic Russian emigrants living in Ukraine or abroad who voluntarily travel to Ukraine to join the corps.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), as the next chief of the Presidential Office.
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