16 APR 2026
UkraineZaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine

Ukrainian SOF soldier downs Russian FPV drone

Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 22:01 UTC · 1 source

A Ukrainian Special Operations Forces soldier from the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center successfully downed a Russian FPV drone in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The soldier, with the call sign 'Odesa,' first attempted to disable the drone with a net-thrower gun, but trees obstructed the net's path. He then switched to his rifle and used small-arms fire to destroy the incoming threat. The incident highlights the close-range, improvised tactics used by infantry to counter the pervasive threat of enemy drones on the front lines.

Key Details
Soldier call sign: Odesa
Unit: 73rd Naval Special Operations Center
Method: Rifle fire after net-thrower failed
Sources
TW@EuromaidanPressview1h ago
Cycle: Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 22:01 UTC · First reported: 1h ago