Russian soldier blown up trying to catch a drone as Ukraine launches massive aerial attack

A Russian soldier was blown up after trying to swat away a Ukrainian drone hovering just above him. The horrifying moment was captured on video, before being posted to and shared on social media channels.

Images show an FVP drone following and hovering above the soldier, as he makes his way along a road cutting between fields on either side. Then bizarrely the soldier stretches a hand out towards the UAV, appearing to try and grab it or swat it away.

The drone then explodes into a ball of flames, presumably killing or injuring the soldier.

The video was posted to X social media by the pro-Ukrainian blogger Special Kherson Cat.

The blogger wrote: "Russian infantryman intercepts FPV in mid-flight with bare hands."

It comes as Ukraine launched another massive drone and missile attack across several regions in Russia overnight on Friday.

The intense aerial bombardment is reported to have involved 170 UAVs, 14 unmanned boats, three Neptune and eight Storm Shadow missiles.

A state of emergency was declared in Novorossiysk, the new home port for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Apartments in two multi-story buildings were damaged in the city during the course of the attack.

A video captured the moment one of the high rise buildings was hit, causing fires to break out in several apartments.

Some observers claimed the block of flats was hit by missiles fired from Russian air-defence systems.

The acting governor of Russia's Rostov region said several houses were struck, setting them on fire.

"Unfortunately, due to falling UAV debris, the roofs of two houses in the village of Tselina caught fire," Yury Slyusar said.

"Two adults and two children were evacuated from one house."