How Russian drones targeting civilians are turning one Ukrainian city into a ‘human safari’

Living Under Constant Threat: Ukrainian Civilians Targeted by Russian Drones in Kherson Region

When Olena Horlova ventures outside her home near Kherson in southern Ukraine, she lives with constant fear. She believes Russian drones could be lurking anywhere – on rooftops, along roads, or tracking her vehicle. To protect her family, Horlova keeps her two daughters indoors and takes extreme precautions, sometimes driving without headlights at night to avoid detection.

Despite Ukrainian forces liberating Kherson in November 2022, approximately nine months after Russia’s full-scale invasion began, residents like Horlova found their ordeal was far from over. The area has become what locals and military personnel grimly describe as a “human safari,” where civilians are routinely targeted by drone attacks.

Kherson was among the first places where Russian forces deployed short-range first-person view (FPV) drones against civilians. These weapons, equipped with livestreaming cameras, allow operators to see and select targets in real time. The tactic has since spread across more than 300 kilometers along the right bank of the Dnipro River, affecting the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions.

“We live with the hope that one day this will finally end,” Horlova said, her voice trembling. “What matters for us is a cease-fire, or for the front line to be pushed further away. Then it would be easier for us.”

Horlova resides in Komyshany, just outside Kherson and only 4 kilometers from the Dnipro River. She explains that FPV drones often land on rooftops when their batteries run low, waiting until people, vehicles, or even cyclists appear before suddenly lifting off to drop explosives. She believes civilians are targeted as “revenge” for the celebrations that erupted when Kherson was liberated.

The United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has determined these attacks amount to crimes against humanity. In an October report, the commission concluded that the deliberate strikes have repeatedly killed and wounded civilians, destroyed homes, and forced thousands to flee, constituting the crimes of murder and forcible transfer.

The commission identified specific Russian drone units, operators, and commanders involved in the attacks from positions on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River. Russian Telegram channels routinely share videos of these strikes, often with mocking captions and threats of further violence.

Commander Dmytro Liashok of the 310th Separate Marine Electronic Warfare Battalion, which defends the skies over southern Ukraine including Kherson, reports that at least 300 drones target the city daily. In October alone, approximately 9,000 drones flew over Kherson.

“This area is like a training ground,” said Liashok, a 16-year military veteran. “They bring new Russian crews here to gain experience before sending them elsewhere.”

Despite the overwhelming volume of attacks, Liashok’s forces manage to neutralize more than 90% of incoming drones. However, those that get through continue to wreak havoc on civilian populations.

The UN human rights office has identified short-range drone attacks as the leading cause of civilian casualties near the front line. Local authorities report that since July 2024, more than 200 civilians have been killed and over 2,000 wounded across three southern regions, with most victims being men. Nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.

During a surprise visit to Kherson in November, actress Angelina Jolie described the constant overhead threat as “a heavy presence.”

“There was a moment when we had to pause and wait while a drone flew overhead,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was in protective gear, and for me it was just a couple of days. The families here live with this every single day.”

At one of Kherson’s main hospitals treating drone victims, 70-year-old Nataliia Naumova is recovering after being struck by a Shahed drone, which carries a heavier explosive than FPV drones. The attack occurred while she waited for an evacuation bus at a school in the village of Inzhenerne.

“People there survive, not live,” she said, describing how she rarely left home even after its windows were shattered and boarded up. “I never thought such a tragedy would happen to me.”

Dr. Yevhen Haran, the hospital’s deputy medical chief, witnesses the devastating impact of these attacks daily. Last month alone, the facility treated 85 inpatients and 105 outpatients with blast injuries from shelling and drone strikes.

“It’s simply hunting for people. There’s no other name for it,” he said.

Haran himself experienced the terror of drone warfare on August 26 while driving with his wife. After being warned about an overhead drone, he watched as it circled and crashed into the vehicle in front of him. Though shielded by the front car, he suffered a hypertensive crisis and concussion.

For Kherson’s residents, the trauma of occupation and the joy of liberation continue to shape their resilience in the face of ongoing attacks. Despite the daily threats, many remain determined to endure until peace returns.

“We held out until liberation — we’ll hold out until peace as well,” Dr. Haran affirmed, capturing the spirit of a population that refuses to surrender to fear.