Karina Bovsunovska16:04, 10.05.26

3 min.79

After the invaders heard the sound of the drone, they panicked and tried to escape.

The crew of a heavy attack UAV freed two Ukrainian infantrymen from Russian captivity during their withdrawal to enemy positions, the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade  reported .

Such an incident occurred in April in the North Slobozhansky direction. During an enemy attack on the positions of a neighboring unit, two Ukrainian soldiers were captured. 

After that, the command turned for help to the crew of the heavy drone “Vampire” of the 21st brigade, which was nearby at that moment. The defenders immediately prepared the drone and set off to intercept. 

At that time, the occupiers were already leading the prisoners towards their positions, but the sound of a heavy Ukrainian drone changed the situation.

“Upon hearing “Vampire,” the occupiers became confused, panicked, abandoned their prisoners, and tried to escape,” the brigade added.

The crew of the “Vampire” freed Ukrainian fighters from captivityThe crew of the “Vampire” freed Ukrainian fighters from captivity

However, they failed to do this. After precise strikes, two Russian invaders were eliminated, and the Ukrainian soldiers were able to free themselves.

According to a neighboring unit, both fighters successfully returned to their units. 

In turn, the brigade emphasized that this is the first recorded case in the North Slobozhansk direction when Ukrainian defenders were able to be freed from captivity with the help of a UAV.

The military added that the operation was carried out by the crew of the “Vampire” under the command of a 23-year-old fighter with the call sign Rubin. The brigade also thanked the entire crew, namely Rubin, Balta, Bal and “Uncle Kolya.”

“Another hero of this story was the Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicle “Vampire” (also called “Baba Yaga” – UNIAN) – a combat vehicle that, by its very appearance, is capable of sowing panic among the occupiers,” the report noted. 

(c)UNIAN 2026