Ukraine Drone Strikes A Russian Soldier On Horse Back | Video

Drones have become a decisive force on the battlefield in 2025, particularly for Ukraine, helping its forces hold ground against Russia despite shortages of infantry.

A newly released video shared by the Ukrainian Army highlights how cutting-edge technology is colliding with centuries-old tactics. The undated footage, posted on Telegram by Ukraine’s 5th Assault Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, appears to show Russian soldiers moving on horseback as a Ukrainian drone tracks them from above.

In the clip, one soldier is seen riding across open terrain while a drone follows his movement. Moments later, the drone strikes as the rider attempts to flee. A second mounted soldier appears shortly before another explosion knocks his horse to the ground,

throwing the rider off. The animal later regains its footing and runs away, leaving the soldier behind. NDTV could not independently verify the video.

Earlier today, Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian cavalry assault in Donetsk Oblast.

Cavalry, in this case, actually using horses. pic.twitter.com/WUlDyWachc

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 22, 2025

Alongside the footage, the Ukrainian unit said Russian forces were increasingly resorting to horses after suffering heavy equipment losses. “The Russian occupiers are losing equipment so quickly during their ‘meat assaults’ that they are forced to move around on horseback,” the brigade wrote, adding that its drone operators engage targets as soon as they are spotted.

Drones at the Centre of Ukraine’s Strategy

The video underscores how central unmanned systems have become for Kyiv. With limited manpower, Ukraine has leaned heavily on drones to detect, track and strike Russian positions along much of the roughly 600-mile front line.

Surveillance drones now perform much of the reconnaissance once carried out by infantry patrols. When Russian troops advance, explosive first-person-view (FPV) drones are often deployed first, while larger drones drop munitions from above. Direct infantry fire is typically used only if troops manage to break through this aerial net.

Old Tactics, New Battlefield

While striking, the use of horses in combat is not without precedent. Mounted units have historically been used for patrols and mobility, including during the Second World War—most notably in battles between German and Soviet forces in 1941.

In recent months, Russian forces have also experimented with other low-tech approaches, such as motorcycle units, in an effort to reduce exposure to drone strikes.

Wider Conflict Context

Away from the front line, Russia has faced a series of high-profile attacks targeting military officials. On Monday, a car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow, just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegations held separate talks in Miami on possible steps toward ending the war.

Since Russian troops entered Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been blamed for multiple attacks against Russian military figures and pro-Kremlin individuals, both inside Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories—claims Ukraine typically neither confirms nor denies.