Russian Soldier Fires Heat-Seeking MANPADS Near Burning Fuel Depot, Completely Misses Ukrainian Drone

Recently circulated footage shows a Russian soldier attempting to shoot down a Ukrainian drone with a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) near a blazing fuel depot — only for the missile to veer dramatically off course in what observers have called an embarrassing display of the weapon's limitations.

How Heat-Seeking Missiles Work — and Where They Fall Short

MANPADS widely used by Russian forces rely on infrared (heat-seeking) guidance: the seeker head locks onto the heat emitted by an aircraft's engine or airframe rather than tracking a radar return. These weapons were originally designed to engage low-altitude fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

In practice, however, IR guidance systems are highly susceptible to background thermal interference. When a high-intensity heat source — such as a burning fuel depot — is present in the engagement zone, the missile's seeker is often drawn toward the stronger ground-based signature rather than the intended airborne target, causing it to miss entirely.

Small Electric Drones Hold a Natural Advantage Against IR Missiles

The small unmanned aircraft Ukraine employs extensively are predominantly electric-motor-driven, producing far less heat than conventional manned aircraft. This alone makes them difficult targets for heat-seeking missiles. When multiple competing thermal signatures clutter the battlespace, the probability of a successful intercept drops even further.

Battlefield Implications

The incident is a fresh reminder that Russian forces face significant tactical blind spots when relying on legacy air-defense tools against the Ukrainian drone threat. By contrast, Ukraine continues to refine its drone employment doctrine, exploiting terrain and environmental conditions — such as the intense heat of a burning depot — to confuse and evade Russian air-defense systems, demonstrating a high degree of operational adaptability.

The video has spread widely on social media and is being cited as further evidence of the asymmetric advantage drones now hold in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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