WP: Russian drones targeting Kherson civilians in ongoing “human safari”

Russian forces systematically terrorize Kherson's residents using small drones and mines, with 133 killed and 1,350 injured between July and October 2024.

Oct 31, 2024 - 16:00

WP: Russian drones targeting Kherson civilians in ongoing “human safari”

wp russian drones targeting kherson civilians ongoing human safari woman walks past windows covered wooden planks sandbags outside hospital

Russian forces have transformed the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson into a dangerous “human safari”, systematically targeting civilians through intense drone attacks, The Washington Post reports.

Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city captured by Russia in the 2022 invasion, endured nine months of occupation before its liberation in November of the same year. Since then, Russian forces have maintained pressure from across the river, with regular attacks on the region. By mid-2024, drones in Kherson Oblast evolved from surveillance tools to weaponized systems, increasingly targeting civilians.

According to the Kherson military administration, between July and October 2024, these drone strikes have killed 133 people and injured 1,350. The attacks represent a unique form of warfare, with Russian forces positioned just across the Dnieper River, utilizing small drones to strike civilian targets.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor, reported nearly 7,000 drone attacks in Kherson Oblast since August, accosring to WP.

“This is targeted terrorism,” Prokudin stated. “They see and understand who they are attacking, and simultaneously boast on social media about killing and injuring civilians.”

Humanitarian operations appear to be particularly vulnerable. Yevhen Piatak, a volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission, noted that ambulances, city buses, and civilian vehicles are high-priority targets.

“They’re shooting at everything that moves,” Piatak said.

The drone attacks are complemented by the deployment of small antipersonnel mines, known as PFM-1S or “petal mines” due to their distinctive shape. These explode when stepped on.

The only relief comes during rainstorms, which ground the surveillance and attack drones. On these days, residents can move with slightly more confidence, collecting humanitarian aid and navigating the city.

Solomiya Khoma from the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center suggests these attacks are a method of psychological warfare, “another method of pressure and terror on the civilian population.”

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