“I know how to feed you”: After a live FPV drone attack, a Russian military vlogger pretends to die.

Filatov had been  missing for almost 24 hours  when he resurfaced on Saturday. The Russian war correspondent’s mysterious disappearance occurred after a reported  Ukrainian FPV drone attack  near Pokrovsk in the  Donetsk region , according to several sources including the outlet Militarnyi.

He would have been targeted

Various  Telegram channels  reported that Filatov was riding his motorcycle when he was  targeted . A live video from the scene shown briefly before being removed hinted at the  drama unfolding . Filatov is no stranger to the conflict, and his  Telegram channel  has amassed over 135,000 followers, making him a prominent figure in the realm of war correspondence.

Ukrainian soldier and journalist  Iouri Boutoussov  commented on Telegram, stating, “The Russian sailboat (his nickname) ceased to communicate after the attack on an FPV drone near Pokrovsk. He probably wanted to do an interview on the spot.” This statement encapsulated the gravity of the incident, highlighting how journalists operate in dangerous environments.

An image allegedly showing a drone approaching Filatov circulated widely, fueling rampant speculation about his fate. Early reports suggested he may have succumbed to the attack, but there was no  official confirmation . Many of his colleagues labeled him simply as “disappeared,” adding to the already oppressive atmosphere surrounding war journalism.

He is finally unharmed

This past Saturday afternoon, Filatov finally reactivated his channel and revealed that he was, in fact,  unharmed . He shared further images from the scene and expressed his  discontent  over what transpired. He candidly stated, “Fortunately, the attack failed. The day before, only one photo of this incident published on the internet immediately sparked a wave of rumors about my death. I chose the photo myself taken from the video. I know how to feed you, a bunch of fools.” His comments demonstrated not only his survival but also a pointed critique of media sensationalism in wartime.

Reports indicated that Filatov may have been targeted due to his presence in a territory controlled by the  414th Ukrainian brigade  utilizing  non-pilot attack aviation . While personal belongings were discovered at the site, there has been no official evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the attack or Filatov’s later statements. The intricate web of war reporting continues to evolve, and Filatov’s experience sheds light on the daily dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts.