This short but nonetheless brutal clip shows the perspective of a Ukrainian drone as it attacks a Russian soldier hiding in the cratered remnants of a dugout. Incredibly- horribly- the grenade dropped by the drone slips through the armhole of the Russian’s armor. As you may well imagine, what happens next is best witnessed at the viewer’s discretion.

Perhaps you’ve seen my other analyses which reference an “unluckiest man in the Russian Army.” I have found him, this time in no uncertain terms.

While Ukrainian drone pilots have routinely shown increasing skill (link NSFW) born of necessity and rote repetition, this grenade drop has some luck involved. While it may be the good luck of the drone pilot, the end result would have been largely the same if the grenade had landed six inches in any other direction. Therefore, a heavier hand seems to be at work- as if this poor bastard’s sins in total, past and present, have come due. There is no doubt that this grenade had his name on it, as it practically slips in his pocket.

I am not going to get into political discourse here about one side versus the other, though I, like anyone, have my opinions. That said, the sheer horror of what’s happening is objectively undeniable- that’s a human being down there, clawing for the unlikely in the face of the completely unreasonable- suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in a most literal sense. And it’s over in an incredibly long seven seconds.

His death is one of those things that would scarcely be believable if we didn’t have the means to see it. But, thanks to the humming, whirring, all-seeing eyes of modern war, we do. If I have waxed overlong about this, if I have been too wordy, consider: aback of this horrifying way to die, this is probably as close to a eulogy as he will get.

 

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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