Electric-powered drones have largely pushed gasoline-engine UAVs out of Ukrainian units, Mikhail Tutavalin, a senior member of a mobile fire group, told the Zvezda television channel.

Gasoline-powered drones are still used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but FPV Hornet drones now account for the bulk of the aircraft encountered, according to Tutavalin. Russian troops more often face large-scale drone raids, while attacks involving FPV drones occur less frequently.

Mobile fire groups are deployed to protect Tor surface-to-air missile systems. The additional cover is needed because Ukrainian drones often approach in groups, leaving a single Tor system unable to engage every aerial target in time.

Tor driver-mechanic Dmitry Tarkhov described one such encounter. Shortly after his crew moved out, the system detected a Lyuty drone and began tracking it. The UAV then turned toward the vehicle, forcing the crew to drive across a field in a zigzag pattern.

The drone abandoned the pursuit only after the maneuver. Once it turned away and began moving off, Russian troops opened fire and shot it down.