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Drones targeted Russian soldiers crossing the Dnipro River on a jet ski, Ukraine said.
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The video, released by Ukraine’s 79th Border Guard, appears to show the attack.
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Russia uses an eclectic mix of vehicles, including motorcycles and golf cart-style buggies.
Footage shared by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry appears to show Russian soldiers crossing the Dnipro River on a jet ski and being taken out by a drone.
The video, released by Ukraine’s 79th State Border Guard Service, appears to show the Russian soldiers being targeted by Ukrainian FPV drones.
The drone follows the jet ski as it crosses the river. When the Russian soldiers reach the opposite bank, the drone focuses and hits the jet ski.
The caption of the video reads: “The SBGSU aerial reconnaissance unit has attacked an enemy crew on a jet ski in the Kherson region with FPV drones. The death of the invaders is being clarified.”
Business Insider could not independently verify the video or details of the attack.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine later posted the video, saying: “The occupiers attempted to cross the Dnipro and received a “warm welcome” from the warriors of the 79th detachment.”
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the formation of the Dnipro River “Flotilla‘ and a ‘riverboat brigade’.
The Dnipro, a natural barrier, forms much of the front line in southern Ukraine.
Russian armed forces have adopted several eclectic vehicles in recent months in an effort to replenish dwindling equipment and adapt to the ongoing challenges and threats from Ukrainian attack drones.
In April, a Russian-backed battalion from the breakaway Luhansk People’s Republic posted a video appearing to attack Ukrainian positions on motorcycles.
In the video, several troops are seen riding motorcycles over rough terrain. According to the post, the Russian attack was successful.
According to reports, quad bikes have also been used in Russian attacks.
Russia has also deployed Chinese-built open golf cart-style vehicles near the front line in Ukraine.
In March, Forbes reporter David Ax noted that the vehicles lack armor and weapons and are typically seen on farms and construction sites, not on the battlefield.
“It is foolhardy, if not insane, to use an unarmored open-top all-terrain vehicle – essentially a heavy golf cart – into combat just a quarter mile from the front line,” Ax wrote at the time.
The vehicles were used to transport infantry to the front lines, Forbes said, and the video shows them being hit by grenades and explosives dropped by drones.
Russians have also been seen modifying their armor in an attempt to protect them from drones and anti-tank fire.
Video of an armored attack by the Russian 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade on Krasnohorivka, and another appearance of a tank with a huge counter-FPV shelter and EW jammer, continuing to move after a DPICM attack. It looks like the lead tank in the first video has a… pic.twitter.com/fQk3FN6ymx
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 16, 2024
Since the early days of the war, Russia has adapted crude metal structures on their tanks to better protect the occupants against anti-tank fires.
This tactic has evolved into what has been called a ‘turtle tank’, covered so extensively in metal plates that the vehicle can barely rotate its gun.
The ever-present threat of drones on Ukraine’s battlefields has prompted troops to experiment to increase their chances of survival. On April 5, Ukrainian forces said they had captured a Russian tank completely covered in electronic jamming equipment. However, the vehicle was still seen being taken out by a first-person view drone.
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