Small and lethal: adapted drones carrying explosives ‘hunt’ civilians in Kherson
- Since July 2024, adapted drones have been attacking civilians in Kherson, Ukraine, resulting in numerous casualties.
- This escalation of drone attacks follows the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from certain areas, leaving civilians exposed.
- The hybrid warfare tactics aim to undermine civilian morale and pressure the government into negotiations.
In Ukraine, specifically in the city of Kherson, civilians are facing a new and deadly threat due to the adaptation of small drones to carry explosives. Since July, these drones have launched thousands of attacks, resulting in the deaths of 24 civilians and injuries to hundreds. This escalated violence comes two years into Russia's invasion, exacerbated by significant troop withdrawals from exposed positions across the Dnipro River. The lack of effective air defense against these small drones has left the population extraordinarily vulnerable. Civilians like Dima Olifirenko are experiencing the fear and trauma of living in a city under constant threat, where a sudden drone attack can turn everyday activities into life-threatening situations. The strategy appears to be aimed at demoralizing and driving the civilian population away to force government negotiations. As many residents cling to their homes and lives amid the chaos, they struggle with the psychological and physical impacts of this hybrid warfare. With little remaining infrastructure and a growing exodus of civilians, Kherson reflects the harsh realities faced in frontline regions of a protracted conflict.