NGO calls for Russia to be held accountable for war crimes involving drone attacks on Ukrainians.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Russian forces have been actively using drones to target and attack civilians in Ukraine.
In a report published on Tuesday, HRW revealed that the Russian military has consistently used unmanned drones to strike civilian areas throughout its prolonged conflict with Ukraine, which has lasted over three years. The organization stated that these actions have resulted in numerous civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries, constituting violations of international law.
HRW supports its claims with footage from Russian drones and testimonies from witnesses and survivors, asserting that Russia has “purposefully or carelessly” targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially in the southern city of Kherson, utilizing “commercially available quadcopter drones” sourced from both domestic manufacturers and China.
Belkis Wille, HRW’s director of arms and conflict, commented, “Russian drone operators can monitor their targets through high-resolution video feeds, leaving little doubt about their intention to kill, injure, and instill fear among civilians.”
“These actions underline the necessity for the international community to pursue all forms of accountability for the victims of Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.”
The report aligns with earlier accounts from residents and officials in Kherson, who indicated that Russian drone operators were engaging in “human safaris” by targeting civilians for training purposes.
HRW spoke with 36 survivors and witnesses of drone strikes and carefully reviewed 83 videos shared on military-affiliated Telegram channels, along with visual evidence provided by witnesses and researchers.
Between June and December 2024, at least 45 “intentional drone attacks” on civilians and civilian infrastructures, including health facilities, were documented by HRW.
Local authorities in Kherson reported at least 30 fatalities and around 500 injuries among civilians due to these drone strikes during that same timeframe.
A report from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in January 2025 noted that drone attacks accounted for 70 percent of civilian deaths in Kherson.
“The objective of these attacks appears to be to instill fear in the civilian population in Kherson, as part of a broader assault against them,” the report stated.
HRW indicated that Russia employed commercial drones manufactured by Chinese companies DJI and Autel, as well as drones from a Russian entity named Sudoplatov, which allegedly presents itself as a “volunteer organization.”
