Russian drone blows up Ukrainian dugout – MOD (VIDEO)
Russian kamikaze ground drones have destroyed several Ukrainian fortifications in Donbass, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said, releasing footage of the attacks.
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said Krot (‘Mole’) robotic systems had destroyed several Ukrainian positions near the settlement of Yampol in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Yampol is an important railway hub located some 20km from the city of Slovyansk.
An undated clip, apparently filmed from a reconnaissance UAV, depicted the ground drone crawling to a well-camouflaged shelter in the forest and entering a hole in the ground, before a powerful explosion destroys the fortifications moments later.
A second similar clip released by the ministry showed the same type of drone blowing up another covered position in reportedly the same area.
Remotely piloted ‘Mole’ drones have an extremely low profile, high maneuverability, and a payload of up to 60kg. In addition to explosives, the tankettes can be used to transport ammunition or wounded.
According to various footage, the tankette, which is shielded by light armor, can also be equipped with a machine gun, anti-tank missiles, or grenade launchers.
The drone is powered by an electric motor, making it harder to detect, and its operations are usually supported by aerial UAVs.
