Ukraine’s New FPV Drones Strike Targets 60 Miles Behind Russian Lines

Serhii Sternenko, a drone fundraiser and adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, recently highlighted a breakthrough involving one of his drone projects.

A Ukrainian FPV drone used in long-range strike operations against Russian targets. (Photo: Ukraine Ministry of Defense Facebook)

“102 kilometers — the target engagement distance with your FPV quadcopter type without using a mothership. Deeper further!” Sternenko wrote on X.

A video of the strike reportedly showed the drone targeting a Russian Bukhanka logistics van far behind the front lines, David Hambling reported for Forbes.

Experts said the drone’s 102-kilometer (61-mile) range is a major achievement for a quadcopter platform, which typically consumes significant energy simply staying airborne.

Unlike fixed-wing drones that can glide and conserve power, quadcopters generally have shorter operating ranges due to their rotary-wing design.

FPV (first-person view) drones first emerged as battlefield tools in Ukraine after hobbyist drone racers adapted commercial systems to carry explosives.

By the summer of 2022, modified FPV drones were reportedly being used to destroy tanks.

Military commanders initially viewed FPV drones as too small and limited for tactical operations, favoring larger systems with heavier payloads and longer range. However, low-cost FPV drones — often costing $500 or less — eventually became among Ukraine’s most effective anti-armor weapons.