I get a daily Substack report that shows information (usually a combo of text and videos) about the situation in the Russo-Ukrainian War from various sources that are out there. A lot of videos are from Telegram (which I don't have an account on) that is like X (Twitter) but is more popular in Europe. This current war has been the coming age of using all types of various drones in combat, from constant observation of the battle space to direct use as weapons in a kamikaze way of doing it. Most of these are FPV (first person view) drones where an operator is flying the drone by looking at what the drone is seeing with its camera(s). The imagery usually ceases right before impact against a target.
Both sides are effective in using all these drones and trying to come up with EW (electronic warfare) ways to keep the FPV drones from hitting what they are hunting. Both sides are so effective at it that if a vehicle is viewed, either moving or somewhat hidden, it will probably be hunted before long. This has caused assaulting tactics to change, with say APC/IFVs (usually the Russians) "landing" their infantry and then the armor getting out of Dodge. Supporting fires come in from other sources such as arty, mortars, or FPV or bomblet dropping drones. The Rus were even using a "Mad Max" way during the warm season by having 3-6 mid-range dirt bikes come flying into an area, with the infantry riders then laying down the bikes and moving in further by foot, usually in among buildings and houses in these contested smaller villages that are quite common there.
The Ukrainians, with a broad collection of donated armor and lightly armored vehicles, and usually on the defensive (moving men to developing gaps) often get caught where they have to bail from vehicles or perhaps the vehicle gets disabled but not destroyed and doors and maybe the ramp (if the vehicle has a ramp) are left open or down. The vesicle may still be operational or damaged but repairable.
However, what I've seen happening in the last 2-3 months is that the Rus are taking great joy in coming back with more FPV drones and flying them inside of these "left open" vehicles to to detonate inside to make sure the target gets burned to a hulk and nothing is left recoverable to be repaired. Its usually fairly obvious from the video what open area the Rus are going to fly their FPV drone into but I saw one today where the drone was coming sort of parallel to the vehicle from the rear and then doing almost a 90 degree turn into the open driver's door. The flying skill that some of these FPV operators have is rather stunning.
I recently asked a young active Army NCO (who's been on duty the whole time this Ukraine war has been going on) if his unit is getting any more drones, especially if any of his guys are getting FPV training. His answer was "Nope".
