Today, there are interesting updates from the Kupiansk direction. Here, as Russian losses have officially hit an unprecedented 1 million count, the breaking point finally came, and the soldiers began turning their rifles on their own commanders rather than face certain death in futile assaults.

Three bullets on road to Nyzhnia Duvanka

In one of the most brutal recent examples of growing disorder within Russian ranks, several Russian soldiers near the settlement of Nyzhnia Duvanka in the Luhansk region turned on their own.

By shooting and killing the military police platoon commander and two of his barrier troop subordinates and running away, they sparked a frantic search operation by Russian authorities.

The deserters left their comrades to lie dead on the road while fleeing to save their lives from both Ukrainian and Russian fire.

Pischane funnel: Where men disappear

This violent mutiny did not emerge in a vacuum; it is directly tied to the hopeless bloodbath unfolding near the Kupiansk front, specifically at the Pischane funnel. For months, Russian forces have tried and failed to break through Ukrainian defenses here.

The Ukrainians have created a deadly trap by controlling the flanks, exposing any Russian assault to relentless drone and artillery fire from both sides. Yet commanders continue to send wave after wave of infantry into the funnel, hoping to drive a wedge through Ukrainian lines.

Every new wave knows exactly how it will end, as almost no one from previous groups returns alive. The systematic nature of these assaults has been likened to mass execution, with soldiers pushed forward not for tactical gain but to serve as human battering rams.

Mad Max cars and vanishing men

To make matters worse, Russian troops are being sent into combat in improvised Mad Max-style vehicles, like the Gaz-69, which entered production in 1952, the year of Stalin’s death, and regular cars fitted with rudimentary armor or even none.

Such improvised motorcycle squads and barely armored vehicles now lead the charge, only to be annihilated by Ukrainian FPV drones well before reaching the contact line. These desperate measures highlight not only material shortages but a total disregard for the lives of Russian troops.

Ukrainian surveillance drones ensure that almost no movement goes undetected, meaning most assaults are decimated long before they engage the defenders.

When running is not option

Despite the carnage, desertions in the Russian army remain surprisingly rare. The reason lies in the sheer brutality of the punishments for refusing to fight.

Soldiers who resist are subjected to medieval-style torture. Some are thrown into pits without food before being forced to fight each other to the death to earn the right to live another day.

In one documented case, soldiers were tied behind vehicles and dragged through the dirt, while other deserters were forced to bury each other alive as punishment and to serve as an example. In the Lyman area, a surrendering Russian soldier was spotted by Russian drone operators and targeted by his own artillery.

This highlights the impossible choice facing many: surrender and be killed or desert and be hunted. For some, turning against their officers seems to be the only escape.

This toxic atmosphere has bred a surge in violent retaliation. Russian soldiers, driven to the brink by the realization that dying in a pointless assault is their fate if they continue, are increasingly likely to choose to kill their commanders instead, as it is safer than being spotted attempting to surrender to the Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, commanders themselves contribute to the decay by labeling active soldiers as deserters to avoid paying their wages, denying them medical care, and forcing under-equipped men into combat.

A recent appeal by the families of men from the Russian 54th Motorized Rifle Regiment revealed horrifying conditions: soldiers were beaten and handcuffed, robbed of personal belongings, and left to die without evacuation.

Wounded men are forced to crawl back to safety, and the dead are simply abandoned, confirmed by footage showing bodies of dead Russian soldiers that haven’t been moved for months since the snow covered the fields.

Million-man grave and rot within

The downward spiral is accelerating. Russian military losses have just surpassed one million casualties, including killed, wounded, and captured.

Equipment losses are equally staggering, with 10,000 destroyed and damaged tanks and over 20,000 armored vehicles of various types.

Lacking armor, modern vehicles, or meaningful support, commanders now rely on sheer manpower and suicidal frontal attacks to advance the line ever so slowly. But the more men are lost, the worse morale gets, and the more inclined troops are coming to view their superiors as the enemy instead of the Ukrainians they are forced to fight.

Overall, such events create a vicious cycle.

The collapse of discipline and the dehumanizing tactics employed by Russian commanders will inevitably lead to more incidents where soldiers turn their weapons on their leaders.

To prevent this, the officers are only doubling down on cruelty, inventing new, more barbaric punishments. This internal rot may not only undermine Russia’s ability to continue the war, but it could also ultimately sabotage its war effort from within.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Montenegro will manufacture unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for Ukraine and NATO under a newly signed agreement with a US firm, backed by up to $15 million in American military aid through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, the Montenegrin Government reports.

Militarnyi reports that on 29 May, the Government of Montenegro approved a letter of intent to invest in UAS production in cooperation with US-based By Light Professional IT Services LLC. The Montenegrin government confirmed that the first batch of drones produced under this initiative will be donated to Ukraine.

The plan reportedly involves a joint effort between two Montenegrin companies (Tara Aerospace and Polimex) and two US firms (By Light and 4WINDS LLC). By Light will contribute its expertise in vertical takeoff drones (HALO series) and FPV drones (PERSES). 4WINDS LLC is expected to establish a Montenegrin subsidiary to support the implementation.

Deal aligns with Podgorica’s Ukraine support

According to the Montenegrin Government’s document, the deal aligns with national goals to support NATO, Ukraine, and regional security while fostering a new sector of economic growth.

Montenegro confirmed its legislation allows the production and export of military equipment and hazardous materials. 

The production and export of arms will follow the country’s national arms control list, harmonized with the European Union’s Common Military List. Additional legislation is under preparation and is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.

As Russian air assaults intensify, Ukraine is accelerating the development and deployment of low-cost drones designed to intercept and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly Iranian-designed Shahed long-range explosive vehicles used by Russia.

Bloomberg reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently met with top military and intelligence officials to address Russia’s increasing aerial assaults and support new drone countermeasures.

“We are also moving in the direction of drone-drone interceptors,” Zelenskyy said, noting the need to complement existing air defenses.

The first publicly available video showing the interception of a Russian Shahed drone with a UAV interceptor emerged on 19 May.

Ukrainian industry shifts toward scalable low-cost defense

Ukraine is scaling up production of UAVs capable of targeting enemy drones, particularly the mass-produced Iranian-designed Shahed 136, known in Russian use as the Geran-2. These drones are increasingly used in long-range strikes, with Kyiv suffering more than 20,000 drone attacks over the last three years.

Kamyshin said interceptor drones are promising but can’t replace other air defenses.

Ukraine still relies on Patriot missiles to stop cruise and ballistic threats, while truck-mounted machine guns struggle against high-flying drones. F-16s are also used to shoot down UAVs.

FPV interceptors

Small FPV drones modified for air-to-air combat are emerging as a key tool in Ukraine’s new aerial doctrine. Ukrainian forces have been widely using them since 2025 against Russian reconnaissance and FPV drones, but not the heavier long-range Shaheds.

Skyfall, one of Ukraine’s leading drone makers, confirmed that its Shrike FPV model is being adapted to intercept enemy UAVs. A company spokesperson said the Shrike, depending on configuration, costs between $300 and $500 and can engage reconnaissance and strike drones.

A video published in April by Ukraine’s 63rd brigade appeared to show Shrikes hitting a Supercam and a Merlin — advanced Russian reconnaissance drones — although the footage could not be independently verified. However, the spokesperson noted that Shrikes can’t target Shaheds, which travel at much higher altitudes.

International companies are also contributing. Origin Robotics, a Latvia-based drone firm, will deliver test UAVs to Ukraine in June. These models are built to approach incoming drones and explode nearby.

“Once it gets close enough to a target, a warhead detonates and the target is hit with fragmentation,” Origin CEO Agris Kipurs told Bloomberg.

Carl Larson, director of Defense Tech for Ukraine, said Ukrainian engineers are developing fixed-wing drones to ram Russian UAVs or deploy recoilless shotguns mid-flight against FPV suicide drones and the bomber drones. 

A new report by Defense Express identifies Ukrainian Osa (“Wasp”) FPV drones produced by First Contact as the likely unmanned aircraft used in the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) highly successful 1 June Spiderweb operation targeting Russian strategic bombers on their home bases.

Visual confirmation of drone model through unique design

Based on images from the preparation phase of the operation within Russian territory, Defense Express highlights drone units stored in hive-like structures under the roofs of mock pre-made houses, which were delivered by trucks to areas near Russian airbases.

Trojan truck op: Kyiv destroys “34%” of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet within hours with truck-launched FPV drones (updated)

According to Defense Express, these images reveal distinctive elements matching the Osa drone, including its thick enclosed frame housing all electronics, a fixed power port, and a front-placed antenna near the camera, rather than the usual rear placement.

Unlike most other FPVs that use an open skeletal frame and top-mounted cables, the Osa employs a sealed construction, which Defense Express argues made it more suited for long-distance transport inside trucks and resilient enough for use in various weather conditions.

Combat capability and final preparation on Russian soil

Further confirmation came through a high-resolution photo published by Censor.net. A bottom-up view of the drone reveals unique ventilation holes and confirms the presence of integrated skids, which served as shaped-charge warheads, according to a reader clarification. Defense Express notes that final drone assembly or arming still occurred on Russian territory prior to deployment.

Specifications support suitability for the mission

According to the manufacturer, the Osa FPV drone is capable of carrying up to 3.3 kg of payload, remaining airborne for 15 minutes, and reaching speeds of up to 42 m/s (approximately 150 km/h). These capabilities allow it to maintain stability and control even in stormy conditions — key requirements for a strike operation executed deep within Russian territory.

Potential use of AI for targeting

Defense Express also cites indications that the drones involved in the Spiderweb operation may have utilized artificial intelligence to locate, identify, and target vulnerable areas on enemy aircraft. First Contact, the manufacturer of the Osa drone, was already developing and testing AI-enabled drones as of January 2024, suggesting the firm likely had deployable systems by the time of the attack.

Independent sources reinforce drone identification

In addition to the visual and technical analysis, Defense Express consulted internal sources familiar with the operation. These sources confirmed the high likelihood that the Osa drones produced by First Contact were the exact type used in the deep-strike mission targeting strategic bomber bases.

New satellite imagery has emerged showing the destroyed Russian strategic aircraft at the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast, located over 4000 km (2485 miles) away from Ukraine, after smuggled Ukrainian drones struck Russian military airfields on 1 June.

The images, captured by American aerospace company Umbra Space and published by geospatial intelligence consultant Chris Biggers on X, show destroyed and damaged Russian bombers.

According to Biggers’ analysis of the satellite data, the strike resulted in the destruction of three Tu-95MS strategic bombers with one additional aircraft damaged, along with one destroyed Tu-22M3 bomber.

A second image reveals what appears to be three Tu-22M3 strategic bombers that were either destroyed or heavily damaged.

The satellite images utilize synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, which allows imaging through cloud cover. 

Ukrainian Spiderweb operation

The operation, conducted on 1 June, targeted four Russian military airfields: Olenya, Belaya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo, using 117 AI-powered FPV drones smuggled into Russia hidden in trucks.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reports that the strikes hit various Russian aircraft including A-50 early warning planes, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 bombers.

Ukraine’s intelligence service claims the operation damaged 41 Russian aircraft, representing what they describe as “34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at their base airfields.” However, independent verification of this figure is not available.

The SBU has stated that personnel involved in preparing the operation, which spanned over 18 months, have returned to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the SBU’s coordination center for the operation was located directly next to a Russian regional FSB [Russia’s Federal Security Service] office, highlighting the boldness and sophistication of the mission.

The Spiderweb operation represents Ukraine’s culmination of developing and utilizing drones for successful modern warfare. Ukrainian drone capabilities rapidly evolved from makeshift, volunteer-built systems into a $2.8 billion domestic industry producing millions of advanced drones, including AI-powered kamikaze models and heavy bombers like the “Baba Yaga.” 

Ukraine strikes Russian strategic bomber airbases in Murmansk and Irkutsk Oblasts with kamikaze drones, targeting aircraft about 2,000 and over 4,000 km from the frontline. Footage from the sites shows massive fires and burning aircraft. The operation has been conducted by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), according to unofficial reports.

Drone attacks in Olenya and Belaya airbases

Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones attacked strategic bomber airbases deep within Russian territory, according to reports by Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels. The strikes targeted the Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast—approximately 2,000 km north of Ukraine—and the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, located 4,300 km to the east. 

Residents near Belaya reportedly captured footage of FPV drones hitting the airfield, followed by multiple explosions. The Olenya airbase was also struck, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts from Cyberboroshno identified the location in videos showing destroyed strategic bombers.

One of the videos, published by multiple Telegram channels, shows drone footage of fires at Belaya airbase, with voice-over commentary by SBU head Vasyl Maliuk, confirming the strike.

FPV drones were delivered to both bases by motor vehicles

In Irkutsk, Supernova+ reported that a long-haul truck stopped near the Belaya airbase and began launching FPV drones from its trailer, which then targeted parked aircraft and facilities on-site.

Similar accounts emerged from Murmansk Oblast. In one video, the narrator states:

“A long-haul truck arrived in Olenegorsk, the driver is running around frantically, FPV drones are flying out of his truck. The traffic police have just arrested him. He says, ‘I was told to come here, that someone would meet me. The drones are flying out one after another.’“

Visual evidence, allegedly from this attack indicated it was not a truck but a van towing a trailer in Murmansk Oblast. Later, it turned out that the images of the van were old.

Damage to aircraft and confirmed targets

According to analysis of the available video materials, at least four Tu-95 strategic bombers—used by Russia to conduct missile strikes on Ukrainian territory—were reportedly destroyed at Olenya airbase, Militarnyi says.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ published multiple videos from both Murmansk and Irkutsk Oblasts, claiming there were at least 10 explosions at Olenya.

Another channel, Exilenova+, posted footage of Tu-95MS bombers engulfed in flames at Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast.

Russian Migalovo airbase hit by kamikaze drones, reports confirm (video)

First drone strike in Irkutsk Oblast

This marks the first time Irkutsk Oblast has been attacked by drones since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Russian site Meduza says the drones were reportedly spotted in the Usolsky district, with settlements such as Sredniy and Novomaltinsk coming under attack. The Belaya military airfield in this area houses Tu-22M3 bombers.

SBU operation “Web” targets Russian bombers

Ukrainian publication Babel, citing sources within the SBU, reported that the strikes were part of a planned special operation dubbed “Pautyna” (“Web”), carried out on 1 June.

Babel’s report added that the FPV drones were deployed to target aircraft involved in bombing Ukrainian cities and towns. The damages from this operation are estimated to exceed $2 billion, according to the source. 

Read the follow-up:

“Trojan truck attack”: Ukraine used AI-trained FPV drones launched from trucks to destroy “34%” of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in a day

A Russian intercept of a Ukrainian drone’s video feed has revealed how Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones use smart terminal guidance systems that enable automatic target engagement, even when the signal is disrupted.

According to Defense Express, footage from a Ukrainian FPV drone—its video signal reportedly intercepted by Russian forces—shows the sequence of how a drone with a target confirmation system functions under battlefield conditions.

The intercepted video was published by NIP Tysk Telegram channel.

FPV kamikaze drones now use smart guidance

Russians intercepted the video signal of a Ukrainian FPV drone showing key tech in action:

– RXLOSS mode kicks in when signal is blocked.
– RCSMOOTHING helps stabilize pilot input.
– A menu guides the operator as the drone locks onto… pic.twitter.com/7GqPIhrliF

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 29, 2025

The drone enters RXLOSS (signal loss) mode multiple times early in the footage, indicating moments where the communication link between the aircraft and operator was blocked or degraded. The signal loss condition in FPV systems can often occur under electronic warfare (EW) interference.

At the 46-second mark, the screen displays RCSMOOTHING, a function that supports stabilization of operator control inputs. At 56 seconds, the interface presents a menu with guidance prompts and a status message indicating that the drone is awaiting target confirmation.

Forbes: Ukrainian AI drones claim 80% hit rate—yet human pilots remain superior

By 1:02, the drone locks on to a target, and the on-screen message changes from “Aim” to “Attacking.” At this stage, the drone autonomously flies toward the locked point, initiating a strike without further input from the operator.

Alternative to fiber-optic drones in EW-heavy conditions

Defense Express notes that these FPV drones equipped with confirmation and guidance systems are emerging as an alternative to fiber-optic-controlled drones, particularly in environments saturated with electronic warfare.

Unlike fiber-optic drones—which become inoperable if their cable is cut—these drones can operate wirelessly and carry heavier payloads. Their ability to continue a strike mission after signal degradation gives them tactical resilience, especially during the final approach to a target.

However, the system also has limitations. It still requires manual piloting to reach a viable launch point before autonomous engagement can begin. If the drone loses connection too early, the mission may fail before the auto-strike phase can activate.

Additionally, as Defense Express reports, the system currently lacks the ability to precisely target specific weak points on vehicles or fortifications, which can be critical for successful destruction of armored vehicles and hardened assets.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian military train with fuel in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast (video)

Two years ago, Russian troops began wrapping their armored vehicles in shell-like layers of add-on armor—all in a desperate effort to protect the vehicles from Ukrainian drones. The Ukrainians gave these up-armored vehicles a name—“turtle tank”—and got to work destroying them with better-aimed and more powerful drones.

So now the Russians are trying a new kind of protection. Instead of welding shells around their vehicles, they equipped at least one BMP infantry fighting vehicle with long metal bristles they clearly hoped would detonate incoming first-person-view drones before they struck the vehicle’s hull. 

It wasn’t a turtle tank. It was a porcupine.

But the porcupine vehicle failed its very first test. The Birds of Magyar, an elite Ukrainian drone unit, hunted down the modified BMP during a Russian assault toward Troitske, a town just north of Bahatyr in Donetsk Oblast, on or just before Saturday. 

The immobilized vehicle burned … and then exploded. “Badaboom!” a Birds of Magyar member crowed as he narrated a video—captured by a Ukrainian surveillance drone—depicting the BMP’s fiery demise. (Go to the 4:25 mark in the video to see for yourself.)

Tiny FPV drones are everywhere all the time all along the 1100-kilometer front line of Russia’s 39-month wider war on Ukraine. The Russian and Ukrainian militaries each deploy millions of drones every year. Both sides try to defeat the other’s drone with radio-jamming or add-on armor—or by finding and striking the operators … or even the factories that build the lethal robots.

Counter-drone innovations can seem awkward in their first iterations. The anti-drone cages the Russians began bolting onto many vehicles as early as the first year of the wider war, which the Ukrainians derisively called “cope cages,” are now standard equipment on vehicles on both sides.

Turtle tanks are funny-looking, but that doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes work. Examples abound of the reinforced vehicles shrugging off multiple drones.

Explore further

Russian troops are hiding from Ukraine’s deadly night-vision drones—but not well enough

Silly armor

The porcupine armor may seem silly on its face, and it didn’t save that BMP from an explosive fate. But the vehicle’s destruction may not be the fault of the metal spines. 

Instead, it seems the Birds of Magyar drone operator flew an FPV into the Russian vehicle’s hatch after a crew member left it open, perhaps while abandoning the vehicle after it was immobilized, potentially by a strike from below. Every vehicle is liable to burn when struck on its fragile insides—regardless of how effective its external armor is.

So it’s possible the porcupine armor will show up on more Russian vehicles. And it’s possible it might actually work as long as crews can avoid a mobility kill—mine damage to their treads, for example—and keep their hatches shut. It’s even possible other armies will eventually copy the porcupine armor the way they copied the cope cages.

And it’s worth pointing out that the porcupine BMP’s destruction didn’t prevent the Russians from advancing. Russian regiments and brigades advanced northeast of Troitske on or just before Saturday, according to the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies. 

It’s not that the Ukrainian brigades in the area are collapsing. Indeed, they counterattacked in Bahatyr at the same time the Russians were attacking around Troitske.

But despite losing around 800,000 troops and 17,000 armored vehicles in more than three years of hard fighting, and despite scrambling for better anti-drone defenses, Russian forces still outnumber and outgun Ukrainian forces.

The Russians can afford to lose more troops and vehicles than the Ukrainians can afford to lose. For now, they can afford to exchange a lot of hardware, and a lot of bodies, for incremental territorial gains.

Explore further

Ukraine found a way to beat Russia’s unjammable drones. It doesn’t work anymore.