Russia is investing billions of pounds in developing new drones to attack Ukraine, as it seeks to gain a technological advantage over its enemy.
Drone warfare has become a vital element in the fighting that has now raged for just over two years.
They have been used to deadly effect by both sides on the frontlines and to strike targets deep inside enemy territory.
Yet it appears the deadly weapons have one major flaw – they can be easily “shot down”.
A new video has emerged on social media channels showing an extraordinary confrontation between Ukrainian fishermen and a Russian drone in the Kherson region.
The fishermen’s boat is being followed and observed by the UAV, prompting them to take drastic action.
One of the anglers takes a fish from their catch and hurls it in anger at the drone, scoring a bull’e eye hit.
The drone is temporarily disorientated and knocked off course, as the fishermen hit the gas and try to speed away to safety.
Putin’s army has relied heavily on drone supplies from its ally Iran, which has shipped the Kremlin its cheaply-produced Shahed models.
US officials also claim that Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to the Shahed.
However, the Kremlin plans to ramp up domestic production in an ambitious new plan that it hope will help it turn the tide in Ukraine decisively in its favour.
Russia‘s new Defence Minister Andrei Belousov announced a government programme in January to boost production of UAVs to over 32,000 per year by 2030.
The project will be financed to the tune of six billion pounds, with domestic manufacturers expected to receive the bulk of the money.
The Kremlin wants Russian businesses to produce 70 percent of the new drones, as it seeks to become less dependent on foreign imports.
Belousov, who at the time was a First Deputy Prime Minister, said: “The annual production volume of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – excluding educational UAVs – is planned at 32,500 units.
“This is almost three times higher than current production volumes. At the same time, it is planned that the share of Russian UAVs will make up 70 percent of the market in this type of UAV.”