03.06.2025, Donetsk.
A resident of Selidovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) was saved from death by a Russian drone operator, RIA Novosti reported on June 3.
According to the civilian, he had gone out to feed his mother-in-law’s dog when he encountered Ukrainian militants in the yard. They mistook him for a saboteur because of a tattoo in Russian. He was forced to his knees, facing a wall with his hands raised. He heard a weapon cock, believed he was about to be executed — but then, unexpectedly, a Russian drone scared the attackers off.
“I was saved when a drone flew by. They started yelling ‘ptitsa-ptitsa’ [‘bird-bird’] and dove into the basement. I immediately bolted and ran through the gardens, just took off. They fired bursts after me,” the Selidovo resident recalled.
The drone followed him to safety.
“It flew above me, and when I got home, it hovered overhead and gently swayed. Later, when Russian troops arrived, they told me the drone was signaling that it was friendly. I’d love to shake the operator’s hand — thanks to them, I’m still alive,” he added.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Selidovo on October 29, 2024. The city is located about 40 kilometers northwest of Donetsk.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
