The city of Kherson in southern Ukraine has witnessed a chilling escalation in drone warfare, with reports suggesting that Russian drones are increasingly being used to target civilians. This shift has profound implications for the nature of modern warfare and raises serious ethical questions regarding the conduct of armed conflict.
A Deadly Incident
On a seemingly ordinary day in July, Serhiy Dobrovolsky, a local hardware trader, returned to his home in Kherson, only to have his life tragically cut short. After chatting with his neighbor in their yard, Serhiy was struck by a grenade dropped from a Russian drone, dying before medical assistance could arrive. His wife, Angela, describes the harrowing moment: “He died before the ambulance arrived. I was told he was very unlucky, because a piece of shrapnel pierced his heart.”
Serhiy’s death is one of at least 30 civilian casualties in a sudden surge of drone attacks in Kherson since July 1, as reported by the city’s military administration. More than 5,000 drone strikes have been recorded during this period, resulting in over 400 injuries among civilians.
Drones: A Tool of Terror
Both Ukraine and Russia have integrated drones into their military strategies, initially focusing on military targets. However, evidence is mounting that Russia is also using drones to deliberately strike civilians. Eyewitness accounts and video footage analyzed by BBC Verify depict drones tracking pedestrians and vehicles before dropping explosives. In one disturbing instance, the drone operator filmed their target before releasing the grenade, showcasing a shocking level of precision in targeting individuals.
Angela Dobrovolsky raises a critical question about the morality of these tactics: “They can see who they are killing. Is this how they want to fight, by just bombing people walking in the streets?” If it is proven that Russia is intentionally targeting civilians, such actions could be classified as war crimes under international law.
A Climate of Fear
The psychological impact of these drone attacks on the residents of Kherson cannot be understated. Kristina Synia, who works at an aid center close to the Dnipro River, describes a life lived in constant fear: “You feel like you’re constantly being hunted, like someone is always looking at you, and can drop explosives at any moment. It’s the worst thing.”
To navigate daily life safely, residents have adopted dangerous strategies to evade drone surveillance. Kristina notes, “We drive at high speed, take cover of trees while parking, and then head indoors quickly.” A device at the aid center emits a warning every time a drone is detected, often buzzing multiple times during a single visit, reflecting the relentless presence of these threats.
Valentyna Mykolaivna, another resident, expresses the despair felt by many: “We are in a horrible situation. When we come out, we move from one tree to another, taking cover. Every day they attack public buses, every day they drop bombs on us using drones.”
The Broader Implications
Olena Kryvchun recounts a near-fatal encounter with a drone strike on her car. Just moments before she was set to enter her vehicle, a bomb fell through the roof, leaving her car mangled but her life intact. “If I’d been in my car, I would have died. Do I look like a military person? Does my car look like a military car?” she laments, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of these attacks. The drones have become a tool of terror, spreading fear among civilians more effectively than traditional shelling.
Ben Dusing, who oversees the aid center, reflects on the crippling effect of drone warfare on the local population. “If a drone locks on you, the truth is it’s probably ‘game over’ at that point. There’s no defense against it,” he says, emphasizing how these tactics have immobilized the civilian population.
New Tactics on the Battlefield
Reports from Kherson’s military administration reveal that Russian forces have also begun deploying drones to distribute anti-personnel mines along pedestrian and vehicular routes. Oleksandr Prokudin, a spokesman for the administration, explained that these “butterfly mines” can glide to the ground and detonate upon contact, often camouflaged with leaves to increase their lethality.
While the BBC has not yet verified these specific claims, the implications of such tactics are alarming. As winter approaches, residents fear that the situation will worsen. Olena warns, “When the leaves fall from the trees, there will be many more victims. Because if you are in the street, there’s nowhere to hide.”
Verification of Drone Attacks
In an effort to understand the scope of these drone attacks, the BBC’s verification team analyzed several videos shared on social media. By identifying unique features in the footage, they were able to pinpoint the locations of the attacks and correlate them with satellite images. In one instance, a drone attack on two pedestrians was tracked to a specific intersection, confirming the location of the strike.
The investigation also traced the dissemination of these videos, which were often posted on Telegram channels with threatening messages directed at the Ukrainian public. These accounts not only showcased the drone strikes but also provided a glimpse into the mindset of those operating them, illustrating a disturbing trend toward normalizing violence against civilians.
Conclusion
The use of drones in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine marks a significant evolution in warfare, particularly regarding their deployment against civilian populations. The chilling testimonies of Kherson’s residents illustrate the profound psychological and physical toll of these attacks, raising critical questions about accountability and the ethics of modern warfare. As the world watches, the situation in Kherson serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the urgent need for protective measures for civilians caught in the crossfire.
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