WSJ: Russia forces Kherson residents to hide indoors, fearing drone attacks

Russian forces are constantly attacking Kherson’s civilians with drones, forcing residents to avoid moving around the city, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The situation in Kherson Oblast remains dire as Russian forces continue to launch relentless attacks on the region, particularly in the city of Kherson, which was liberated from occupation in November 2022. Despite its liberation, residents now face intensified shelling from across the Dnipro River and drone assaults. In October 2024 alone, a Russian artillery strike on a local market resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and injuries to several others. Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating as civilian casualties mount and essential services are disrupted.

A 38-year-old grocery store clerk in Kherson, Olha Chernyshova, shared that she tries to stay home more often, as she has already experienced two drone attacks. In the first instance, she was outside and, upon hearing the buzzing of an FPV drone, managed to run inside her home just before a grenade hit her car, causing minor injuries. A few weeks later, she had to hide under a tree to avoid being spotted by another drone. At the end of October, she watched from her window as a drone dropped a grenade on a nearby parked car.

The report notes that before Russia’s all-out, Kherson’s population was nearly 270,000, but now it is less than a quarter of that. Local authorities report that since the beginning of July, the city has endured more than 7,000 drone attacks, resulting in nearly 600 civilian injuries and 50 deaths.

The Wall Street Journal highlights that these drone attacks on civilians suggest an intent to kill, despite Moscow’s claims that it targets military objectives. Some residents believe that Russians may be using civilians as targets to train drone pilots.

Videos posted on Russian social media show drones tracking pedestrians over several blocks before dropping grenades on them. Ukrainian sources have also shared videos showing Russian drones with explosives flying near residential buildings.

These attacks have drastically altered life for Kherson residents. They avoid going outside unnecessarily, stand under trees when possible, avoid driving, and prefer walking so they can quickly take cover if a drone appears.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service representative, Volodymyr Tsiktor, confirms that it has become difficult for people to move around the city. Russian drones are also targeting rescue vehicles. Recently, a drone struck the roof of a building being repaired after artillery damage, causing one emergency worker to sustain a spinal injury and another to suffer shrapnel wounds.

To combat these Russian drones, vehicles equipped with anti-drone systems patrol the city. However, authorities are urging residents to evacuate, as guaranteeing safety under these conditions remains challenging.

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