Watch: Ukrainian drone targets Russian soldier on horseback

Drones confront cavalry on modern battlefield

Drones have emerged as a decisive force on the battlefield in 2025, particularly for Ukraine, enabling its forces to hold ground against Russia despite persistent shortages of infantry. Kyiv has increasingly relied on unmanned systems to compensate for limited manpower and equipment along the front line.

A newly released video shared by the Ukrainian Army illustrates how advanced drone warfare is intersecting with centuries-old combat methods. The undated footage, posted on Telegram by Ukraine’s 5th Assault Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, appears to show Russian soldiers advancing on horseback while being tracked from above by a Ukrainian drone.

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Horses under drone fire

In the video, one Russian soldier is seen riding across open terrain as a drone follows his movements. Moments later, the drone strikes as the rider attempts to escape. A second mounted soldier appears shortly afterwards, before another explosion knocks his horse to the ground, throwing the rider off. The horse later regains its footing and runs away, leaving the soldier behind. NDTV said it could not independently verify the footage.

Ukrainian forces said the incident followed a Russian cavalry assault in Donetsk Oblast earlier in the day, highlighting how Moscow’s troops are resorting to increasingly unconventional tactics on the modern battlefield.

Alongside the footage, the Ukrainian unit said Russian forces were turning 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 drone operators engage targets as soon as they are spotted.

Aerial systems as frontline weapons

The video underscores the central role drones now play in Ukraine’s military strategy. With limited personnel, Kyiv has leaned heavily on unmanned systems to detect, track and strike Russian positions along much of the roughly 600-mile front line.

Surveillance drones increasingly perform reconnaissance tasks once carried out by infantry patrols. When Russian troops advance, explosive first-person-view drones are often deployed first, while larger drones drop munitions from above. Direct infantry fire is typically used only if troops manage to breach this aerial defence network.

Old methods, new reality

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, particularly in clashes between German and Soviet forces in 1941.

In recent months, Russian troops have also experimented with other low-tech methods, including motorcycle units, in an effort to reduce exposure to drone strikes.

Wider war backdrop

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