A Russian serviceman with the call sign Bereza survived a Ukrainian drone strike and returned to his unit with a prisoner, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Servicemen from the Vostok troop grouping were monitoring Bereza via a reconnaissance drone during a combat mission in the special military operation zone when a Ukrainian heavy hexacopter attacked his position.
According to fellow troops who watched the engagement from the drone feed, several unmanned aircraft capable of dropping explosive projectiles launched strikes close to Bereza. The heavy explosions showered the area with earth, leaving the soldier partially buried under debris.
A Russian fighter with the call sign Kulyaba said comrades monitoring the aerial feed believed Bereza had been killed in action after seeing the barrage of drone munitions detonate around him.
However, Bereza survived the strikes, dug himself out of the debris, and entered a direct small arms firefight with advancing infantry from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the close-range battle, he managed to overcome the opposing troops and take one Ukrainian soldier prisoner before bringing him back to Russian positions.
Surging drone operations on the frontline
Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine have previously reported a fundamental shift in combat dynamics across the frontline, noting that infantry units now face unmanned aerial systems far more frequently than traditional enemy foot soldiers.
Heavy hexacopters are large multi-rotor drones fitted with six propellers, providing the stability and lifting power required to transport heavy explosive payloads. Military forces in the conflict frequently use these hexacopters to drop multiple mortar shells or modified munitions directly onto troop positions and light armor.
Small arms engagements remain a critical component of ground warfare, often occurring when infantry forces attempt to capture or clear positions following drone and artillery bombardment.
Operational context and media reports
The Vostok troop grouping, also referred to as the Eastern grouping of forces, is one of the primary Russian operational formations deployed in the conflict. The command directs combat units and tactical drone surveillance teams across key frontline sectors in eastern and southern regions.
Official coverage of the incident was provided by RIA Novosti, a major Russian state news agency based in Moscow. Russian official sources and state media maintain the designation of special military operation for all military actions conducted in Ukraine since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022.
