"These run-and-gun vehicles don't come with much in the way of external protection, leaving them exposed and vulnerable to Russian drone strikes, but that's the tradeoff for flexibility in combat. Two soldiers in Ukraine's 4th Ranger Regiment, a special operations unit modeled after its US Army counterparts, talked to Business Insider about how they found themselves under Russian drone fire near the front lines while riding in the buggies."
"In September, Khyzhak and two other operators were driving back to base from a mission when a Russian first-person-view (FPV) drone appeared behind their buggy and started chasing the vehicle. Khyzhak said that his driver skillfully maneuvered away from the Russian drone at the last second, which detonated a few feet away on the side of the road. The Ukrainians, having narrowly survived, jumped out of the buggy. One of the operators landed awkwardly and broke his leg."
Ukrainian special operators rely on light buggies to move swiftly along front lines, prioritizing speed and maneuverability for high-risk missions. The buggies provide minimal external protection, increasing vulnerability to Russian drone strikes and FPV attacks. Two soldiers from the 4th Ranger Regiment, identified only by call signs, described separate drone attacks in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region that injured operators. In September, an FPV drone chased a buggy and detonated nearby after a last-second evasive maneuver, causing one operator to break his leg. Operators accept exposure as a tradeoff for operational flexibility in frontline environments.
Read at Business Insider
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