Ukrainian soldiers have captured a Russian fiber-optic-controlled drone during ongoing operations in eastern Ukraine, according to a post by radio technology specialist Serhiy Beskrestnov, also known as Serhiy Flash.
Beskrestnov shared an image of the drone on his Facebook page, thanking Ukrainian troops for revealing that the drone had traveled a distance of nine kilometers before being captured.
“This is now a trophy. It flew 9 kilometers. And this is not Kursk, but the East,” Beskrestnov wrote, indicating that the incident occurred during fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The captured drone, identified as a “Vandal” FPV (First-Person View) model, represents a sophisticated piece of Russian technology. The drone is notable for its stable image quality and signal retention, even during intense combat situations.
These drones provide excellent image quality and flight stability, maintaining the signal until the very last second. However, despite their impressive capabilities, the drone’s range is limited by the length of the fiber-optic cable, which constrains its flight distance and maneuverability.
One of the Vandal drone’s key advantages is its resistance to electronic warfare (EW) interference. Unlike conventional drones that rely on radio frequency signals and are vulnerable to jamming, the Vandal’s fiber-optic control system makes it impervious to traditional EW measures. This feature has made the drone an increasingly valuable tool for Russian forces in contested areas.
The drone first appeared during battles in the Kursk region, where advancing Ukrainian forces had equipped much of their vehicles with electronic warfare systems designed to counter FPV drones. However, the fiber-optic control mechanism of the Vandal allowed it to operate effectively in environments where standard drones could be disrupted.