FSB says it seized FPV drone goggles rigged with explosives meant for Russian operators

In brief

• Russia's Federal Security Service says it seized FPV drone goggles rigged with explosives, which it says were meant for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
• The case was opened in Volgograd Oblast, and investigators are looking for people linked to sending the goggles.
• Ukrainian outlets reported a similar operation in February 2025, but the FSB's account of the new batch has not been independently verified.

FSB reports seizure of booby-trapped goggles

The Federal Security Service said it prevented a series of terrorist attacks involving FPV goggles fitted with explosives (ФСБ России заявила, что предотвратила «серию терактов» с использованием FPV-очков со взывчаткой – Zerkalo). The agency says officers collected a batch of goggles used to pilot drones in several regions of Russia (ФСБ заявила, что перехватила партию заминированных FPV-очков для операторов дронов – Meduza). According to the FSB, the goggles were intended for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, and the explosives were set to detonate when the devices were switched on.

How the case was reportedly uncovered

The FSB claims the goggles were sent to Russian units by Russian Post after contact on Telegram between people it describes as Ukrainian operatives posing as pseudo-patriots and representatives of Russian humanitarian organizations and charity funds. The senders reportedly asked recipients for thank-you videos from Russian soldiers.

The batch came to light after a serviceman from Volgograd Oblast said a volunteer had given him two pairs of goggles, and he took them to the FSB for checks. The agency says the explosives had been installed in place of the cooling fans.

Criminal case opened

The FSB directorate for Volgograd Oblast opened a case on preparing a terrorist act, illegal transfer of explosives and their manufacture. Investigators are looking for people linked to sending the goggles.

Similar operation reported in 2025

In February 2025, Ukrainian outlets reported a similar operation by Ukrainian intelligence. The FSB's account of the new batch has not been independently verified.