Russians are paid for FPV drone strikes on Ukrainian troops: What we know

Some units of Russia’s army have already received cash rewards for effective drone attacks against Ukraine’s Defense Forces in February, spokesman for the southern Defense Forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn said in a comment to Ukrinform.

Price per strike

Russian commanders set a fixed payment for each confirmed hit on Ukrainian troops, the spokesman said.

“A cash reward of 25,000 rubles — about 14,000 hryvnias — has been established. This applies to strike UAVs or FPV drones for each effective hit on enemy personnel, provided there is objective control,” Voloshyn said.

A mandatory requirement for payment is video confirmation of the strike, filmed by another drone.

“That is, video evidence of the moment of the strike from another UAV,” the spokesman explained.

Units receiving rewards

Vladyslav Voloshyn specified that in February 2026, payments were already made to certain formations of Russia’s 5th Combined Arms Army, including units of the 127th Motor Rifle Division and the 143rd Motor Rifle Regiment.

According to Ukraine’s southern Defense Forces, these units were involved in strikes against Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Verkhnia Tersa and Tsvitkove in the Huliaipole sector.