Russian Soldier in Desperate Plea Over Kyiv's Drones: 'They're Burning Us'

A Russian soldier has described the difficulty of dealing with drones on the battlefield in a video plea for people to send guns to thwart the unmanned aerial devices (UAVs) launched by Ukrainian forces.

Drones have been a key part of the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and video from drone units on both sides in the conflict have shown how the small cheap devices can destroy expensive artillery pieces and tanks.

However, a 42-second clip posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the pro-Ukrainian account War Translated shows an unnamed Russian soldier saying that he and his comrades did not have the basic weapons to fend off the drones, which are dubbed "birds."

"Please help us with pump shotguns. Any s*** will work. DM [direct message] me. I'll explain how to get it here," said the out-of-breath soldier in an undisclosed location, surrounded by trees.

"These birds, these f****** FPV (first-person view) drones— we're sick of them," the soldier added. War Translated often shares videos of disgruntled Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment about the clip, which has not been independently verified.

Both small and cheap to assemble, the FPV drone has been one of the most-potent weapons in this war. Controlled by pilots on the ground, the devices, whose components cost only a few hundred dollars, often crash into targets, laden with explosives. They can be launched from improvised platforms several miles from the front line and can have a range from three to 13 miles, or even more.

Ukraine's Digital Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in February that the country will make thousands of long-range drones capable of deep strikes into Russia this year, and there are 10 companies making UAVS that can reach Moscow and St. Petersburg.

"They're simply burning us," the Russian soldier said in the 42-second video, adding that "one shotgun saves 10 lives, if not more.

"Understand that we have enough spirit to fight, but when the tiny $500 scum burns you from above and tears you apart, then it becomes increasingly difficult."

Russian forces have momentum on the battlefield following their seizure of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in February, but this has come at a huge cost in personnel. Kyiv's latest figures outline daily losses of more than 1,000 on five consecutive days, but Newsweek has yet to verify these numbers.

Amid the high losses and reports of low morale among Moscow's troops, another video posted by War Translated this week showed another unnamed Russian soldier warning would-be recruits not to join the war for the high salary on offer.

"Your heroism will disappear once you enter combat for the first time," he said.