How Russian drones are terrorising civilians in Ukraine - The Observers

[ad_1] 4 years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have reworked the battlefield. However they've additionally introduced the struggle to Ukrainians’ doorstep. Small drones referred to as FPVs and long-range Shahed drones are terrorising Ukrainian civilians. In a particular report in collaboration with RFI Ukraine, our Observers recount their day-to-day actuality.

Situated in southern Ukraine on the banks of the Dniepr River throughout from the Russian military, Kherson has change into a searching floor for what locals name a “human safari”. The Russian forces are utilizing drones to focus on civilians – whether or not they're on foot, driving, and even on bicycles. The drones they use are referred to as FPVs, for “first-person view”, that means the operators see what the drone sees in actual time.

‘Everybody has heard the sound of a drone’ For residents of Kherson, these drones have change into a day by day risk. Our Observer Alla, who lives within the metropolis, informed us:

“Everybody has heard the sound of a drone, seen it. Youngsters of all ages, once they hear the sound of a drone, they level upwards, they usually say ‘Drone! Drone!'

It is strongly recommended to drive in harmful zones with the home windows open, since you will not hear a drone in a closed automobile. Nobody will warn you a few drone assault. Everybody depends on their very own listening to, or listening to a whistle. This implies we've got three seconds to cover someplace.”

The hazard is just not solely within the metropolis, nevertheless. We spoke to a farmer within the Kherson area:

“It's totally troublesome. Have I witnessed drone assaults? I see these assaults on a regular basis. We felt it particularly this 12 months, as a result of this 12 months there have been extra of them than ever earlier than. There have been many fires attributable to drone assaults. A drone simply flies in, falls into the sphere, and the wheat burns down.

It's totally unpredictable. It is not a missile assault that we're warned about prematurely, the place we are able to go someplace to take shelter."

Warfare crimes and crimes towards humanity No less than 577 civilians have been killed by short-range drones in Ukraine in 2025, and greater than 3,000 have been injured, in line with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). Practically 95% of civilian casualties have been recorded in territory held by the Ukrainian authorities.

In an October 2025 report specializing in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv areas, the UN Fee of Inquiry of Ukraine discovered that “Russian armed forces’ short-range drone assaults ... quantity to against the law towards humanity ... and struggle crimes."

‘Most strikes happen when persons are peacefully sleeping’ However small drones should not the one drones in Russia's arsenal. To strike Ukraine’s rear cities, Russia additionally makes use of drones which are bigger, quicker and way more highly effective – the Shaheds. The purpose: to put on down the inhabitants.

Cheaper than missiles, Shahed drones are produced in huge numbers. They rain down on Ukrainian cities each night time, dozens at a time.

Learn extra How Russia is constructing airports to launch Iranian drones at Ukraine

Maryna Averina, the spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine within the Odessa area, explains:

“It begins within the night. Typically, from 8 or 9pm, they begin terrorising us. Sirens go off, drones begin hitting. However in our apply, primarily based on statistics, the height is round 2, 3 or 4 am. That's when most strikes happen, when persons are peacefully sleeping."

‘The drone was following us’ With Ukrainian airspace closed to passenger flights since 2022, the nation's rail community has change into a vital service but additionally a serious goal for Russian drone assaults.

On January 27, 2026, three Shahed-type drones focused a passenger practice within the Kharkiv area. Anatoly Tymotsko was the practice's conductor when it got here beneath assault. He informed our group:

“I keep in mind all the things. The drivers stopped the practice utilizing the emergency braking as a result of a drone hit in entrance of the locomotive. That stopped it.

I went out to the vestibule door and heard a sound like a moped – that’s the sound of the Shahed drone. Once I leaned out, I noticed it coming from the tail of the practice. It was coming at us like that. It was following us.

A passenger evacuation was declared. Sadly, it hit the sixteenth automobile. It wasn't a coincidence. They particularly directed the goal there.”

In accordance with the native prosecutor, six folks have been killed within the assault.

The HRMMU recorded 684 civilians killed in Ukrainian-controlled territory by long-range weapons (missiles and long-range drones) in 2025. Greater than 4,000 have been injured. This accounts for 35 per cent of civilian casualties in Ukraine of that 12 months.