Shocking footage of panicked Russian soldiers desperately trying to avoid drones. Ukrainian soldier: “It's the new trend”

Ukrainian soldiers on the eastern front have released dramatic footage of Russian soldiers sent into battle without any protective gear – they are filmed desperately seeking refuge from drones flying overhead.

PHOTO Ukraine's 66th Special Rifle Brigade via The Telegraph

A Russian soldier whose only protection is his uniform spots the drone overhead and embarks on a desperate but futile escape – his only escape is some trees on a now-leafless battlefield, if he makes it that far. The soldier isn't wearing a helmet or a vest – he's panicking, but he probably knows he doesn't stand a chance. After a few moments, the drone strikes relentlessly.

It's a scene Ukrainian soldiers often witness on the front line in Liman, according to soldiers in the area, quoted by The Telegraph.

“This is a new trend. Especially if we refer to last year, when there were practically no such cases,” Igor Komok, deputy commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Ukraine, told The Telegraph.

“You could say they are forced to fight without the protection they need. They have no choice.”

Video footage shows Russian soldiers trying to sneak out into the open field, wearing only their camouflage uniforms, while others make an effort to disappear into the vegetation.

Brigade 66 has shared photos of at least six soldiers they recently killed who were not wearing any protective gear over their uniforms, as well as numerous videos. The phenomenon is much more widespread than these documented cases, they pointed out.

“Only four groups out of the last 20 wore helmets,” Commander Komok explained, referring to the last Russian battalions sent to attack. “I mean, these are not isolated cases.”

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, dozens of attacks have taken place in Lîman in recent days.

Brigade 66 has the mission to stop Russian attacks in the region. Officials said Russia is currently trying to exploit weather conditions – dense fog and the absence of vegetation – to advance, complicating Ukraine's defenses.

Moscow's troops advance with heavy infantry, supported by drones, and sometimes resorting to motorcycles, with considerable loss of soldiers.

Dmitro Jmailo, executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, said: “The lack of protective equipment is an adaptation to the current conditions on the front line, where the Russian military suffers disproportionately high losses in 'cannon fodder' attacks.”

He explained that the videos shared by the 66th Brigade were filmed in late October and November, adding that it is “a common phenomenon” to see Russian soldiers without protective equipment.

The lack of adequate equipment reflects the heavy losses suffered by the Russian military – coupled with shortages of supplies, weapons and ammunition, a sign that Russia's ability to sustain its military is declining amid economic problems.

Most Russian assault troops are being treated as “disposable,” he said, receiving inferior equipment and training as the command tries to conserve scarce resources that Moscow cannot provide for all.

The executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation suggested that the incidents could represent a form of punishment for disobedience.

“In the Russian military, it is common to 'punish' personnel by firing – when commanders deliberately send their fighters to their deaths in front of Ukrainian drones.”

Moreover, Russian commanders often send wounded soldiers into battle without even arming them, as they are considered “disposable” from the start, he added.

Punishment and deception

Russian soldiers themselves have reported that minor infractions, such as carrying a single liter of water instead of two or wearing non-regulated insignia, can lead to arrest by the military police and their distribution to assault teams.

In images shared on Telegram, others said they eat tree bark to survive and face extortion from their superiors.

“For the Russian command, these are just dispensable resources to achieve the Kremlin's political goals,” Jmailo explained. “Russian groups are exhausted and suffering heavy losses from constant attacks, and the Russian leadership is demanding results on the battlefield.”

Commander Komok suggested that the Russian troops captured by his unit may not have even known they were in danger due to the chaos on the front line.

“Most likely, Russian troops do not even suspect that they are approaching the positions of Ukrainian forces,” he said. “Russian command convinces staff that there are no Ukrainian troops ahead, only allies.”

From his point of view, the lack of equipment is not only explained by the shortage of resources, but is also a sign of negligence and lack of respect for the lives of infantry soldiers.

According to Jmailo, another hypothesis is that many of these Russian troops could be sent to the battlefield to retrieve weapons and supplies left behind by their dead comrades.

“This equipment is then handed over to the next assault group, which will launch a new wave of meat grinder attacks. Meanwhile, the Russian assault troops who died on the battlefield are left behind. The Russian command is simply saving resources by not equipping the infantry.”

Russia often uses unarmed and unprotected men to cross fields on foot to deliver supplies and ammunition – a role that earned them the nickname “camels” from comrades

In most cases, the “camels” are quickly detected by the drones and destroyed, which means that the Russian command has the ability to send more in the course of an operation.

In most cases, they are unprotected and unarmed.

“We are forced to destroy them, because if we don't, our people risk losing their lives,” Commander Komok said.

“We can say that indeed – they [trupele ruse] he must fight without proper equipment because of the deception of his own command and his own decision to take up arms and go to war in another country.”