UN Confirms Russian Drone Attacks on Kherson are Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes
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The United Nations has confirmed what residents of Kherson - and Byline Times - revealed nearly a year ago: Russia's drone attacks on civilians were systematic, premeditated and intended to instil terror and forcibly displace the population.
"In the port city of Kherson, drones patrol the skies, hovering over devastated coastal suburbs and villages, searching for an old lady with a bucket here or a teenager on a bicycle there - to eliminate by dropping explosives," Byline Times reported on 29 July 2024, the first international publication to identify the use of drones in this way as a potential war crime.
"It's a human safari," said Tatiana, a resident of the Vostochny district.
#Kherson BREAKING.
Drones hunt civilians in #Kherson
Spike in #Russian drone attacks.
Dozens injured and killed.
"5-6 attacks a day."
Exclusive interviews from the coastal areas.
An article with an analysis is forthcoming tomorrow.#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9XllQzrMU9 - Zarina Zabrisky (@ZarinaZabrisky) July 28, 2024
Eyewitnesses such as Tamara and her neighbours described drones circling overhead and dropping grenades on pedestrians. Their testimonies, gathered by Byline Times, were the first to document these attacks as part of a broader campaign of terror.
Now, following three months of investigation between March and May 2025, the United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that the Russian military committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Kherson region. The Commission found that Russian forces carried out attacks "with the primary purpose to spread terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law".
A senior practitioner at a Kherson hospital is quoted in the report:
"Russian Federation soldiers behave like this is a safari […]; they are simply chasing and hunting civilians who are on their way to work or walking their dogs. They drop explosives from drones like it is a video game."
Russian Drones are Hunting Civilians in Kherson: 'They see you and They Target you'
Estimates suggest that 50 people have been killed or injured in targeted drone attacks in the last two months, and left Kherson residents scared to leave their homes
Zarina Zabrisky
Russian Telegram channels frequently post video footage from drone operators showing civilians being tracked, attacked and killed. One channel even boasts in its description: "We instil fear in the Kherson direction." These videos - some with thousands of views - not only depict the crimes but are also accompanied by threats of further attacks.
The Commission determined that the use of drones to target civilians and civilian infrastructure represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on anything other than military objectives. The evidence leaves no ambiguity as to the intent of the perpetrators. Russian forces, the report states, committed the war crime of deliberately directing attacks against civilians in Kherson province.
The Commission further concluded that posting videos of such attacks amounts to the war crime of outrages upon personal dignity. More than 120 videos have already been geolocated and verified by investigative teams, offering undeniable proof of deliberate targeting.
This marks the first official confirmation of Russia's use of low-cost civilian drones - such as FPV and Mavic models - in a campaign to terrorise and depopulate areas. The attacks are described as "systematic", "planned and organised", and reflective of "organisational policy".
The Commission also found that these actions may amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of popula...
For digital and print editions, packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, features, and columns….
SUBSCRIBE
The United Nations has confirmed what residents of Kherson - and Byline Times - revealed nearly a year ago: Russia's drone attacks on civilians were systematic, premeditated and intended to instil terror and forcibly displace the population.
"In the port city of Kherson, drones patrol the skies, hovering over devastated coastal suburbs and villages, searching for an old lady with a bucket here or a teenager on a bicycle there - to eliminate by dropping explosives," Byline Times reported on 29 July 2024, the first international publication to identify the use of drones in this way as a potential war crime.
"It's a human safari," said Tatiana, a resident of the Vostochny district.
#Kherson BREAKING.
Drones hunt civilians in #Kherson
Spike in #Russian drone attacks.
Dozens injured and killed.
"5-6 attacks a day."
Exclusive interviews from the coastal areas.
An article with an analysis is forthcoming tomorrow.#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9XllQzrMU9 - Zarina Zabrisky (@ZarinaZabrisky) July 28, 2024
Eyewitnesses such as Tamara and her neighbours described drones circling overhead and dropping grenades on pedestrians. Their testimonies, gathered by Byline Times, were the first to document these attacks as part of a broader campaign of terror.
Now, following three months of investigation between March and May 2025, the United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that the Russian military committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Kherson region. The Commission found that Russian forces carried out attacks "with the primary purpose to spread terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law".
A senior practitioner at a Kherson hospital is quoted in the report:
"Russian Federation soldiers behave like this is a safari […]; they are simply chasing and hunting civilians who are on their way to work or walking their dogs. They drop explosives from drones like it is a video game."
Russian Drones are Hunting Civilians in Kherson: 'They see you and They Target you'
Estimates suggest that 50 people have been killed or injured in targeted drone attacks in the last two months, and left Kherson residents scared to leave their homes
Zarina Zabrisky
Russian Telegram channels frequently post video footage from drone operators showing civilians being tracked, attacked and killed. One channel even boasts in its description: "We instil fear in the Kherson direction." These videos - some with thousands of views - not only depict the crimes but are also accompanied by threats of further attacks.
The Commission determined that the use of drones to target civilians and civilian infrastructure represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on anything other than military objectives. The evidence leaves no ambiguity as to the intent of the perpetrators. Russian forces, the report states, committed the war crime of deliberately directing attacks against civilians in Kherson province.
The Commission further concluded that posting videos of such attacks amounts to the war crime of outrages upon personal dignity. More than 120 videos have already been geolocated and verified by investigative teams, offering undeniable proof of deliberate targeting.
This marks the first official confirmation of Russia's use of low-cost civilian drones - such as FPV and Mavic models - in a campaign to terrorise and depopulate areas. The attacks are described as "systematic", "planned and organised", and reflective of "organisational policy".
The Commission also found that these actions may amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of popula...
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