Ukrainian FPV drones decimate Russian convoy near border

Ukrainians, after receiving numerous approvals from NATO countries to use donated equipment for attacks on Russian territory, are not idle. Simultaneously, there are also attacks using improvised weaponry on poorly protected Russian rear positions. We present the details of one such attack.

So far, Ukrainians have tried not to carry out too many attacks on Russian border territories for political and economic reasons. Of course, there have been previous shellings of targets in the Belgorod region. However, this does not compare to the current dynamics using, for example, M142 HIMARS systems.

Now, an exciting recording has emerged showing the destruction of a Russian convoy in the Kursk region, 1.5 miles from the border. Ukrainian soldiers from the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade destroyed the convoy using FPV drones, which meant they had to sneak relatively close to the column. At least a dozen vehicles and an unknown number of soldiers were destroyed.

The Ukrainians do not have sufficient advanced long-range anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as the Stugna-P or the FGM-148 Javelin. Despite the Russians attacking with a mass of equipment, even of a museum nature, including tanks like the T-62 or the T-54, something must be used because they are resistant to machine guns or automatic cannons.

For this reason, Ukrainians use FPV drones to carry weapons that might be ineffective under normal conditions. Examples include RKG-3 anti-tank hand grenades capable of eliminating combat vehicles from the BMP series or single-head PG-7VL anti-tank grenades. Depending on the construction and payload, such drones can reach several hundred yards or more than a half mile.

In the case of the latter, fired from an RPG-7 launcher, the effective range of hitting the target is up to 440 yards, and the penetration capability of about 20 inches of armor steel is not enough for the front armor of most tanks in Ukraine. The side and rear are different.

Moreover, such missiles can be stopped by even a sufficiently thick steel plate separated from the tank's main armor by about 20 inches. In this way, the famous Russian armored barns proved exceptionally resistant to FPV drones but defenseless against professional anti-tank weapons.

The base of these drones is often lightened commercial constructions like the DJI Mavic or DIY builds. The core components required are minimal: a frame, electric motors with rotors, a control system, a camera, and a battery. The payload is often attached to such drones with zip ties, and the detonator is activated by two wires that touch to cause an explosion.

Theoretically, the simplest form of protection against them is electronic warfare systems like the Siłok-01. The Russians even designed helmet-mounted solutions based on electronics from AliExpress. However, these are not widespread, and there is no guarantee that the opponent will not adapt their drones to the range of the jammers.

The war in Ukraine has shown that a sort of frequency war is ongoing between drone manufacturers and jammers, with periods of both unchecked flight and complete grounding for either side.