A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine — an unusual sight in a war dominated by both modern unmanned systems and primitive trench networks.
The clip, released Oct. 4 by Ukrainian sources on Telegram and shared by several accounts, shows at least two soldiers with their mount moving across open terrain before a first-person-view (FPV) drone dives toward the group and explodes. The Russian soldiers appear to hide behind the horse, likely trying to conceal themselves from the enemy.
Ukrainian outlets identified the drone operators as soldiers from the 132nd Separate Battalion, though the claim has not been verified.
“The horses, of course, are a pity,” one Ukrainian post quoted by United24 Media said. “But it’s still a combat unit. Sad — yes. But the work is being done to reduce human casualties.”
The use of horses in combat has surfaced before in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Russian media outlets have shown footage of troops training on horseback in the Donetsk region, reportedly under a program known as “Khan.” In one video published by The Telegraph, instructors said horses could move more quietly through wooded or mined areas and produce less electronic signature than vehicles. Several Russian military and defense units already use horses across the country to patrol Russia’s massive landmass and borders.
Defense analysts describe the recent incident in Ukraine as experimental and limited. Armored vehicles have suffered heavy losses in the three-year-old war, and many front-line areas are too cratered or mined for reliable movement. Mounted patrols may offer some flexibility in areas where roads and tracks are destroyed, but remain highly vulnerable once detected by drones.
According to Russian and pro-Russian media outlets, the forces being trained in mounted operations utilize two-man teams where one soldier controls the horse and the other provides security.
The Donetsk front is marked by extensive trench systems, minefields, and fixed defensive lines that slow maneuver on both sides. In that environment, drones have become one of the most lethal and inexpensive weapons available. Ukrainian FPV drones, assembled from commercial parts and guided by live video, are routinely used to destroy infantry teams, armored vehicles, and artillery positions at a safe range.
If the details surrounding the footage are authentic, it represents a rare instance of cavalry troops appearing on a modern battlefield and an example of how small drones continue to change the dynamics of ground combat. Russian officials have not commented on the video.
The incident highlights the challenges facing both militaries in the conflict as they adapt to a battlefield where movement, even on horseback, is increasingly difficult to hide from drone surveillance.
