CCTV appears to show Russian drone ‘hunting civilian’ in Ukraine war crimes row
A man can be seen dodging the drone by weaving between parked cars as it follows – before the Russian-powered device catches up and explodes next to him
A Russian drone was seen chasing a market vendor in Kherson(Image: National Police of Ukraine/AFP via Getty Images)
Distressing footage appears to depict a Russian drone chasing a civilian through the streets of Kherson, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russian president Vladimir Putin’s forces of intentionally targeting ordinary citizens.
The video, which has not been independently confirmed but was shared by Ukraine’s National Police, shows a man darting between parked cars as a drone seems to track him. Moments later, the apparently Russian-controlled device can be seen detonating just metres away from him.
The 52-year-old man did survive the explosion, but is said to have sustained shrapnel-related injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
“This is how Russians fight. They deliberately hunt civilians,” stated the Ukrainian police.
National Police of Ukraine released the CCTV footage of a man selling vegetables being chased by a remotely piloted Russian drone on August 4(Image: National Police of Ukraine/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denounced the alleged attack as a war crime and labelled the drone operator a “sadist”, reports the Express.
“This barbaric Russian war crime in Kherson requires international condemnation and justice, yet thousands of similar crimes never reach the public eye,” he posted on X.
“This is a deliberate and systemic Russian strategy. They know exactly what they are doing. The sadist operating this drone knows full well that he is targeting a civilian.”
He added: “This horrific video proves that Russian barbarians will try to repeat their genocidal atrocities of [the 2022 massacre in Bucha] wherever they can reach.”
Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said the footage exposed “Russia’s real tactic: pursuing and killing innocent people.
“This is not war. It is deliberate terror against civilians,” he added. “It is yet another Russian war crime that must receive a proper international legal assessment.”
The 52-year-old victim survived the attack, but has been hospitalised with injuries from the blast(Image: X)
Kherson was captured by Russian forces during the early stages of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, before being liberated by its own forces in 2022. Since then, the city has remained under constant bombardment from Moscow.
Along with relentless artillery strikes, mortar attacks, tank bombardments and air raids following its 2022 liberation, the city was also left in ruins in 2023 when Russian forces blew up the nearby Kakhovka Dam in 2023; an effort to flood and destroy the city.
Drone strikes on civilians have become increasingly frequent over the past three years, with locals dubbing the tactic the “Human Safari”. Since 2024, at least 200 civilians are reported to have been hunted down and murdered by Russian drone operators in Kherson.
The drone exploded(Image: X)
Casualties have reportedly included people waiting at bus stops, commuters, children playing in parks, bus drivers and ambulance crews.
Locals have also alleged that some Russian drone operators have deliberately injured victims and have then waited for first responders to arrive, only to detonate the drone or launch a second strike targeting those providing assistance.
Footage of such attacks are frequently shared on Russian social media platforms and Telegram channels.
