Russian Soldier Tries to Swat Down Drone With His Hat, Video Shows

Ukrainian drone operators from the unmanned systems battalion of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade showed a series of strikes against Russian troops in the Serebriansky Forest, according to a released combat footage on December 22.

According to the brigade, the video documents the elimination of 20 Russian soldiers during recent fighting in the wooded area. The footage, published on the unit’s official channel, captures multiple moments in which Russian troops attempt to evade aerial surveillance and attack drones—with no success.

In one sequence, a Russian soldier is seen trying to hide behind a tree to avoid detection before making a desperate attempt to knock the drone down using his hat. When that fails, he breaks into a run, only to be struck moments later.

Other clips show Russian troops scattering through the forest, abandoning their weapons, hiding among trees, or even pretending to be dead in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. None of those tactics proves effective.

“We’re not breaking our tradition—every Monday, we bring you a fresh batch of destroyed enemy troops. The drone pilots of the 63rd Brigade eliminated 20 more Russian occupiers in the Serebriansky Forest. They ran, dropped their rifles, hid, pretended to be dead—but they still didn’t survive,” the brigade wrote.

Earlier, footage shared by the OSINT community showed Russian forces attempting to storm a Ukrainian position using a horse for transport, an assault that was ultimately halted by a Ukrainian drone strike.

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