Журналістика даних
Within FPV's reach. How Zaporizhia is getting used to living under nets
The first cases of Russian forces using FPV drones were recorded as early as summer 2023, and by autumn, they were already being used on a massive scale. Since mid-2024, Russians have systematically terrorized civilians in the Kherson region with drones. At the time, most FPVs had a range of 5–10 km from the front line.
FPV (First Person View) — drones controlled by a pilot in real time, allowing them to pursue a target.
Since then, the geographic reach and range of FPV drones have continued to expand. Today, some modifications are capable of striking targets at distances of 25–30 km. This allows Russia to extend the threat deep into Ukraine’s frontline regions.
Radius of FPV drone strikes. How Zaporizhzhia adapts to life under the grids
Joint project of Texty.org.ua and Center for Information Resilience (CIR)
The advancing front line and the increased flight range of Russian drones have led to a sharp rise in FPV strikes on Zaporizhzhia. In just one month, the city has been covered with anti-drone meshes, and locals are adjusting to the new challenges of war. Together with analysts from the Center for Information Resilience (CIR), we analyzed the geography of FPV drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia and determined what cities within FPV range can expect.
Although the Kherson region remains the main training ground for Russian drone operators, in June 2026, enemy FPV drones increasingly began striking Zaporizhzhia, a major city in southern Ukraine. The front line moved closer to the city, while the drones’ flight range also increased.
Drones appear unexpectedly. When you are walking to the supermarket, riding a shuttle bus, or simply going for a walk, a journey that usually takes seven minutes can stretch to 25. People run between shelters and hide in any available building when they hear the distinctive sound. Some take a more fatalistic approach. "If it hits, it hits," says a resident of Zaporizhzhia.
She recalls how drones recently caught her near the Rowing canal, where other women were swimming at the time. When they heard that FPV drones were flying nearby and attempts were being made to shoot them down, everyone ran to hide in the reeds, even though they knew they were unlikely to protect them from a direct hit.
In June, the number of FPV drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia rose sharply
On June 8, an FPV drone struck a shuttle bus in the Pisky neighborhood at its final stop. After this, locals truly sounded the alarm, and on June 16, they began installing anti-drone meshes.
The maps below show the frequency and range of FPV drone strikes. The more intense the purple color, the more strikes there were. The data was provided by analysts from the Center for Information Resilience.
Zaporizhzhia region
2024
2025
2026
As of early July 2026, the distance from drone operators’ launch positions to the southern suburbs of Zaporizhzhia is approximately 25 km.
Kherson region
2024
2025
2026
Kherson is located directly within the range of enemy drones. Russian drone operators’ positions may be located just 4–5 km from the city center. Russian drone operators train by attacking civilians, and after a hit, they boast about it by posting videos on their Telegram channels.
CIR analysts have recorded a similar increase in FPV attacks in other regions near the front line, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions.
Donetsk region
2024
2025
2026
Kharkiv region
2024
2025
2026
Sumy region
2024
2025
2026
As of today, CIR has not recorded as many confirmed drone attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Zaporizhzhia area as in the Kherson area. However, the pattern of attacks is the same: strikes on buses and ambulances, gas stations, and, again, fire trucks arriving to put out fires. CIR analysts have observed such attacks in Kherson and its suburbs since July 2024.
After an FPV drone strike, a fuel tank at a gas station caught fire
A damaged fire truck that arrived to put out a fire at a gas station after a second FPV drone strike
An FPV drone destroyed an emergency medical vehicle that was on the hospital grounds. A nurse was injured.
CIR analyst Joshua Scriven believes that attacks in the Zaporizhzhia area are likely to continue. The city is already within the range of FPV drones, and this will not change until Russian forces can be pushed back.
It is currently unclear how quickly the drones’ range will increase beyond the current 20–30 km. According to Scriven, one method is to use the Molniya drone (Lightning) as a carrier. It transports FPV quadcopters to the maximum possible distance and releases them with fully charged batteries. Another method is to use relay drones to strengthen the control and video signals. Both methods could add dozens of kilometers to the effective range.
Scriven explains that, at present, fiber-optic FPV drones are the most effective thanks to their clear video feed and resistance to electronic warfare (EW). "Their range can be increased simply by adding more cable, but this adds weight and requires reducing the warhead. Therefore, at present, there is no obvious way to saturate cities beyond 20–30 km with mass FPV strikes. The main focus appears to be on improving conventional FPV drones’ ability to overcome EW to strike cities that are already within range in greater numbers".
CIR believes that the expanding capabilities of small drones will likely lead to an increase in the frequency and range of Russian attacks on civilian and military traffic traveling to and from strategically important cities. This strategy appears intended to establish control over key areas by blocking reinforcements and supplies. However, Russia classifies all traffic as either "military" or "dual-use", meaning the number of civilian casualties in areas under drone "control" is likely to increase.
Explore the full map of strikes below.
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