Ukrainian servicemen at times attempt to blend in with civilians, but Russian forces say they are able to identify them using reconnaissance drones, including the «Knyaz Veshchy Oleg» (KVO). One such incident was described to RT by a drone operator known by the callsign «Skif.»

According to him, in the Kherson region the drone picked up a senior Ukrainian officer — a deputy commander of one of the brigades. The man was reportedly among civilians, and the only detail that set him apart was an assault rifle.

The operator said the drone helped locate the target, after which the officer tried to flee in a civilian vehicle but failed to escape. Later, Skif noted, Ukrainian online sources published images of a damaged car along with an obituary for a colonel.

He added that the KVO is not limited to tracking individual personnel. Russian troops also use it to detect communications units, drone operators, and artillery crews.

The fiber-optic-controlled Knyaz Veshchy Oleg drone is widely used in the special military operation zone. It is described as relatively inexpensive to produce and easy to maintain, with damaged components quickly replaced, including parts made with 3D printing. The drone features a jamming-resistant communication channel and can operate at distances of up to 45 kilometers from its operator.

Another cited advantage is its design. Built with a fixed-wing configuration, it resembles certain models used by the Ukrainian military, which is said to reduce the likelihood of it being targeted and allows it to remain in operation longer under combat conditions.