Reports allege minors helped guide drone strike on Russian city

Teenagers in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg are suspected of assisting Ukrainian forces by providing imagery of the city, according to reports in the Telegram channel Mash.

The channel claimed that Ukrainian operatives contacted local youths who spent time on rooftops and allegedly paid them to send panoramic photos and videos of the urban landscape.

“Panoramic photos and videos of the city were found on their phones, which were sent to Ukrainians for financial reward,” the publication stated.

According to the report, these materials were allegedly used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to build a digital model of the city. Missing elements were then supplemented using data from drone cameras.

As a result, on April 25, a UAV reportedly struck an apartment building in the city centre, damaging its upper floors. The city mayor said that nine people sought medical assistance after the incident. A total of 44 apartments were affected, although there was no risk of structural collapse.

It remains unclear what punishment the minors may face, as they are reportedly under the age of 16.