On 29 December 2024, in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizzhia region, the intelligence officers of the DIU’s Kraken active operations unit conducted a successful operation, eliminating the Chief of Staff of the ‘Storm.Ossetia’ battalion (an assault unit of the 429th motorised rifle regiment of the Russian Armed Forces) Serhii ‘Kam’ Melnikov and his driver.
According to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, military intelligence officers obtained operational data on Melnikov’s route and schedule. This information allowed the aerial reconnaissance men to prepare an FPV ambush to destroy the occupiers.
During the operation, the drone operators first scared the driver of a UAZ Patriot car with Russian soldiers. The frightened driver abruptly changed the direction of movement, which led to the car flying into a ditch. At that moment, the car was hit by a kamikaze drone.
Both occupants were eliminated.