A newly released battlefield video has highlighted the stark contrasts shaping modern warfare in Ukraine, where advanced drone technology is increasingly clashing with tactics rooted in centuries-old combat traditions.
The footage, shared on Telegram by Ukraine’s 5th Assault Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, shows Russian soldiers attempting to move across open ground on horseback — only to be tracked and struck by a Ukrainian drone from above. The video, which NDTV said it could not independently verify, underscores how unmanned aerial systems have become central to Ukraine’s defence strategy in 2025.
Drone locks on as horse-mounted soldiers flee
In the undated clip, a drone is seen following a Russian soldier riding a horse across exposed terrain. Moments later, the drone strikes as the soldier tries to escape. A second rider mounted on horseback appears shortly before another explosion knocks the horse to the ground, throwing its rider off. The animal later gets back up and runs away, leaving the soldier behind.
Alongside the video, the Ukrainian brigade claimed that Russian forces were resorting to horses due to rapid losses of vehicles during what it described as repeated “meat assaults”.
“But even that doesn’t help them,” the brigade said, adding that its drone operators neutralised targets as soon as they were detected.
Drones fill infantry gaps for Kyiv
The footage reflects Ukraine’s growing reliance on drones as it faces shortages of infantry along the roughly 600-mile front line. Surveillance drones now monitor large stretches of the battlefield, effectively replacing traditional reconnaissance patrols.
When Russian units advance, explosive drones are often deployed first, followed by larger unmanned systems that drop munitions from above. Infantry fire is generally used only if soldiers manage to slip through this aerial surveillance and strike network.
Military analysts say this layered drone strategy has allowed Ukraine to hold its ground against numerically superior Russian forces.
Old tactics resurface under new pressure
While the use of horses may appear unusual in modern warfare, it is not without precedent. Mounted patrols were used extensively during the Second World War, including in the 1941 Battle of Moscow between German and Soviet forces.
In recent months, Russian troops have also experimented with other low-tech approaches, such as tactical motorcycle units, in an attempt to reduce losses from drone strikes.
Wider conflict continues beyond front lines
Away from the battlefield, Russia has faced several high-profile attacks on military officials. Earlier this week, a car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow, just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegations held separate talks in Miami aimed at exploring an end to the conflict.
Since Russian forces entered Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been blamed for multiple attacks on Russian military figures both inside Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories.