The UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russian armed forces deliberately target civilians with short-range drones in settlements along the Dnipro River.
The investigators said these systematic strikes constitute crimes against humanity of murder and war crimes of attacking civilians, with the clear purpose of spreading terror among the population.
This landmark finding validates reporting from 2024-2025 documenting Russia’s systematic transformation of civilian areas in southern Ukraine into hunting grounds where drones pursue individual victims with deadly precision.
Russian forces killed 133 civilians and injured 1,350 between July and October 2024 alone in what locals call “human safaris.”
Documentary evidence shows these attacks intensified throughout 2024, with Kherson residents reporting up to 100 drone attacks daily by spring 2025.
UN documents widespread and systematic attacks on civilians
In its latest findings, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine documented drone assaults across Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts, spanning more than 300 kilometres of front-line territory.
Russian units operating from the opposing left bank of the Dnipro used drones with real-time tracking to pursue individuals, drop explosives directly on them, and attack civilian vehicles.
The Commission reported that ambulances, fire engines, and other emergency responders bearing visible markings were also struck, preventing life-saving work in the aftermath of attacks.
The Commission also noted that civilian casualties from explosive weapons in Ukraine rose by 40 percent in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the previous year, with drone strikes representing a growing share.
Older people in front-line communities are particularly vulnerable, as many are unable to escape.
Telegram channels linked to Russian forces have circulated videos of civilians being hunted and killed, which investigators said amounts to the war crime of outrages upon dignity.
Civilian areas rendered unliveable
Beyond individuals, Russian forces have directed drones at residences, infrastructure, and other civilian sites, leaving entire communities devastated.
One Kherson resident told investigators: “Drones chase us, we hide from them. Drones sit on rooftops, and if they see something, there will be consequences.”
The systematic nature of the attacks has forced essential services to shut down and compelled thousands to flee. The Commission said this may amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of population.
Broader pattern of deportation
The inquiry is also examining deportations and transfers of civilians from Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Taken together, investigators said these practices reveal “coordinated and organized efforts” by Moscow to consolidate control over occupied territories while driving local populations out.
Accountability imperative
“The circumstances of the attacks show the perpetrators’ intention to kill, harm and destroy,” the inquiry concluded.
Its chair, Erik Møse, stressed that avoiding impunity and holding perpetrators accountable is essential for sustainable peace. The full report is set to be presented to the UN General Assembly in October.