I spent over 100 hours compiling and analyzing over 5,000 videos of soldiers trying to escape UAV drones — pulling material from Telegram, Reddit, and other sources. Here is what i found out. 
There are more videos available. But I had to stop at that stage because of the psychological toll.
I wanted to understand what factors affect survival when soldiers are targeted by drones. Here’s what the data revealed:
I wanted to understand what factors affect survival when soldiers are targeted by drones. Here’s what the data revealed:
A/ 67% survival rate in obstructed environments (buildings, dense forests).
Why? Drones are designed for speed and detonation, not collision avoidance. Many simply smash into walls, doors, windows, or get tangled in branches and detonate before hitting their target.
B/ 92% death rate in open fields.
No matter the escape method — running on foot, driving, riding a motorbike, or sitting on top of an armored vehicle — the drones outpace and outmaneuver almost every attempt to flee in open terrain.
C/ Armed vehicles provide some protection, but it’s limited.
If a vehicle withstands the initial attack and the crew dismounts, the soldiers’ survival rates revert to the numbers above (depending on the environment).
But here’s the biggest discovery I made:
=> Smoke increases survival rates by 32%.
=> Smoke increases survival rates by 32%.
Whether it’s using the smoke from a burning vehicle or deploying a smoke grenade to obscure a forest entrance, smoke acts as a critical cover. It confuses visual tracking systems and gives soldiers a vital edge when escaping drone pursuit.
This analysis isn’t just academic — it’s a reminder of the terrifying efficiency of modern drone warfare and the importance of environmental and tactical adaptation on the battlefield.
We’re building systems to detect and track drones before they strike — even in environments where visual detection or radar struggles.
Our goal: to empower defense forces, critical infrastructure, and public spaces with early warning and real-time situational awareness against drone threats.
We’re currently piloting projects in Europe and actively engaging with partners and investors who want to help scale Europe’s counter-drone capabilities.
If you want to connect or collaborate, DMs are open!
If you want to connect or collaborate, DMs are open!
Research sources:
@dronewar
@strikedronescompany
@VictoryDrones2023
@dronesukraina
@dronewar
@strikedronescompany
@VictoryDrones2023
@dronesukraina
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