A viral video released by the Ukrainian army shows a drone tracking and attacking Russian soldiers moving on horseback in the muddy terrain of eastern Donetsk. The footage, shared by Ukraine’s 5th Assault Battalion, highlights how Russian forces, struggling with impassable mud that hinders mechanized transport, have resorted to unconventional and low-tech methods such as horses for movement. The drone successfully targets and disrupts the mounted soldiers, demonstrating the vulnerability of these alternatives to Ukraine’s advanced drone warfare.

Experts note that the difficult terrain and persistent Ukrainian drone attacks have made traditional mechanized warfare challenging for Russian troops, forcing them to adopt less detectable but slower and more exposed means of transport, including horses, donkeys, and camels. This shift underscores the evolving nature of the conflict, where modern drone technology is effectively countering conventional military movements and forcing adaptations on the battlefield.