World News
UN commission and experts warn of systematic Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians
A deleted Russian military video showing a drone strike on a cyclist in Donetsk highlights a broader two-year pattern of targeting civilians in frontline regions.
The short version
- A Russian military Telegram channel published and later deleted footage of a short-range drone killing an unarmed cyclist near Kramatorsk.
- Human rights groups and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine report that Russian forces have systematically targeted Ukrainian civilians with small drones since 2024.
- The UN commission estimates these drone strikes have killed roughly 150 civilians and injured hundreds more in the Kherson region alone.
- Experts state that drone operators receive real-time video feeds, making it unlikely they are unable to distinguish civilians from military personnel.
Key facts
- The 3rd Army Corps of the Russian armed forces posted and subsequently deleted Telegram footage showing a drone strike on an unarmed civilian cyclist in the Kramatorsk district.[France 24]
- The Russian military account initially presented the cyclist in Kramatorsk as an enemy combatant before deleting the video after public outcry.[France 24]
- The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine declared deliberate drone attacks against civilians to be war crimes and potential crimes against humanity.[France 24]
- According to UN estimates, short-range drones have killed approximately 150 civilians and injured hundreds of others in the Kherson region since late 2024.[France 24]
- Targeted civilian transport and individuals include pedestrians, bicyclists, private vehicles, public buses, ambulances, and emergency responders in regions such as Kherson, Sumy, and Kharkiv.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- The precise reason why the Russian military account removed the Kramatorsk video remains unconfirmed, though analysts suggest potential legal, reputational, or operational security concerns.[France 24]
- Researchers differ on whether the drone strikes represent explicit high-level command strategy or command tolerance of rogue behavior by operators and former militia units.[France 24]