Kathrine Frich
Reports from Russia’s front lines have repeatedly pointed to harsh conditions.
Soldiers allegedly facing shortages of food, inadequate equipment and delayed pay.
As pressure builds, some troops are now said to be resorting to unusual methods to secure extra income.
Friendly fire surge
Russian soldiers are reportedly shooting down their own drones and presenting them as Ukrainian targets to claim rewards, according to the “Možem objasniť” channel.
The issue has been highlighted by several pro-war Telegram channels, often referred to as “Z” sources, which describe it as a recurring problem rather than isolated incidents.
According to these reports cited by Digi24, some units have already submitted downed drones for recognition, only for them to later be identified as Russian-made devices.
Coordination breakdown
The “UAV Operator Chronicle” channel links the incidents to weak coordination between units. Nearby forces often fail to inform mobile fire groups about friendly drone activity.
As a result, crews tasked with shooting down aerial threats cannot reliably distinguish between their own UAVs and those operated by Ukraine.
In internal messaging groups, the situation has reportedly been described as a “time bomb,” with warnings that confusion could escalate further.
Incentives and deception
Some accounts suggest that soldiers have gone further by modifying wreckage to support false claims. According to “Možem objasniť,” Ukrainian markings and even swastikas have allegedly been added to downed drones.
This tactic is said to align with wartime propaganda narratives portraying Ukrainian forces as “ukrofascists.”
One channel reportedly shared an image of a serviceman posing with what was later identified as a Russian “Molniya” drone.
Growing drone threat
At the same time, Ukrainian drone capabilities are described as a significant and evolving challenge. Devices such as the Hornet, also known as “Martian-2,” are said to operate at high speed and long range with AI-assisted targeting.
These drones can reportedly function day and night and are resistant to current electronic countermeasures.
The “Osvedomitel” channel acknowledged that Russia is lagging in counter-drone efforts, noting that experimental solutions like FPV interceptor drones remain limited.
Sources: Digi24, Možem objasniť, UAV Operator Chronicle, Osvedomitel
