This drone footage, provided by the Ukrainian drone team known as Punisher Sword, shows their drones exploiting a Russian soldier’s truly compromised position- hanging onto a ladder, partway up a communications tower. His fairly unavoidable fate requires due viewer’s discretion.

Typically, we associate bad things with a descent- the “depths” of depravity, hitting “rock bottom” or Dante’s circles of Hell. However, this scenario departs from that concept by showing a Russian soldier who has been unavoidably ruined by ascension. He’s stuck on the ladder of a communication tower when Ukrainian drones find him. Worse still, he’s fairly high up- if he survived the jump at all, the drones would in all likelihood just find him at the bottom with several broken bones.

While I’m sure there are some other outstanding candidates, this poor bastard has a substantial claim on the worst luck in the Russian Army. Imagine it being your job to be stuck in the ladder scene from Metal Gear Solid 3, but with the risk of being blown up at any particular point. Joking aside, I have a certain amount of sympathy for this guy- his job appears to be similar to my military job, and this incident highlights an emergent danger in what was previously probably pretty safe and mundane.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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