Ukrainian forces scale up experiment with new method to down Russian Mavics - Defense Express

According to Defense Express, at the end of December 2024, the first use of unconventional FPV drones by Ukrainian military appeared online. These drones were equipped with shotguns and showed significant success in targeting reconnaissance drones of the Russian occupying forces.

According to Defense Express, there is now a growing amount of footage showing Ukrainian forces using these drones. It is likely that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are planning to expand this strategy to combat Russian drones.

Another footage shows several moments where a shotgun-equipped FPV drone flies extremely close to a Russian drone before taking it down with a precise shot. Meanwhile, the operator captures the Russian drone’s fall using the drone’s camera.

• The Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Defense Innovations tested FPV drones controlled via fiber-optic cable for representatives from various branches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces