UN Accuses Russia of War Crimes in Kherson Drone Attacks
A recent report by the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russian armed forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity through systematic drone attacks targeting civilians in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
Systematic Drone Attacks on Civilians
Since July 2024, Russian forces have launched repeated drone strikes on Kherson city and 16 surrounding localities along the right bank of the Dnipro River. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of countless civilians, including children. Victims were targeted during everyday activities such as walking, playing in the park, attending school, driving, or riding mopeds.
The commission’s report highlights that ambulances, which are protected under international law, were also targeted, leading to additional casualties.
Locals have referred to this deliberate targeting of civilians as a “human safari,” highlighting the terror inflicted by Russian drone operators who appear to hunt civilians from the sky. This term underscores the systematic nature of the attacks and the psychological impact on the population.The BBC described a man having recently returned home from work stepping into his yard outside, lighting a cigarette and chatting with his neighbour before they heard the sound of a drone buzzing. The man’s wife says she saw him run and take cover as the drone dropped a grenade, but he died at the scene because shrapnel had pierced his heart.
Evidence of Deliberate Targeting
The UN commission analyzed over 300 videos and photos, approximately 600 Telegram posts, and conducted interviews with 91 individuals from affected areas. The findings indicate that Russian drone operators used live video feeds to deliberately target civilians, including those walking dogs or commuting. Footage shared on pro-Russian Telegram channels often showed these attacks, demonstrating an intentional strategy to instill terror among the civilian population.
The recurrence and pattern of these attacks over a ten-month period demonstrate a widespread and systematic approach, leading the commission to conclude that these actions were carried out pursuant to an organizational policy. Also, they weren't limited to Kherson alone.Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the UN report, emphasizing that the documented drone strikes constitute a deliberate campaign of terror against the local population. The ministry called for justice and accountability for these grave violations of international humanitarian law.
The UN’s findings add to the growing body of evidence regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which have included arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and other severe human rights violations in occupied territories.
