This bodycam/GoPro footage from the perspective of a Russian soldier captures a very close call for him and his squad-mates as a Ukrainian FPV drone narrowly misses their vehicle. Drones continue to represent a constant threat to both sides in the conflict.

While drone-camera recordings of bombings or kamikaze-style attacks are anything but uncommon, with montages of them being provided by their controllers, video from their surviving targets on the ground are decidedly more rare. The quad-copter drone comes into view at approximately 0:19 seconds before impact in front of the Russian vehicle, having failed to properly lead the target. However, it’s a very narrow miss. The driver and passengers flee the vehicle, none having been hurt.

The prospect of being hit by artillery, whether by dint of being targeted or just via the general misfortune of being downrange, is an eternal concern for soldiers, going back all the way to the trebuchet, one supposes. Soldiers in the First World War commonly believed that “you never hear the one that will get you.” On the modern battlefield, however, not only can you hear it, it’s actively seeking you out.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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