"Drones of Death: Russian Forces Targeting Civilians in Kherson"

Amid relentless drone attacks, Kherson residents endure terror and displacement as Russian forces engage in deadly tactics across southern Ukraine.

Kherson, Ukraine – Kherson’s weary citizens continue to face the devastating consequences of Russia’s ongoing assault, with civilian life at the mercy of relentless drone strikes and artillery shelling. In late November, Maria, a 22-year-old mother from Ponyativka, gave birth to her son, Ivan, at a local maternity hospital. This was a rare moment of joy in a city ravaged by war.

Ivan was the only newborn that day at the district maternity hospital in Kherson, a city now gripped by death and despair. In December, local records show just 15 births, contrasted by 256 deaths and 311 people fleeing the area. The population of Kherson has dwindled from over 320,000 before the war to a mere 83,000, as many residents attempt to survive the escalating violence.

The toll of this war is felt most by the people of Kherson as they endure what locals call “human safaris.” This new form of Russian aggression emerged in summer 2024, with drones following civilians and vehicles, dropping explosives on unsuspecting targets. According to local authorities, in November and December alone, at least 16 people died in these drone attacks, with another 144 injured.

In the span of just six months, drones became the leading weapon used against civilians, shifting from 5 percent of attacks in June to 60 percent by December, as compared to artillery and missile strikes.

Maria’s maternity ward has been repeatedly struck by missiles over the past two years, forcing a move to a basement for safety. The hospital, located near Russian forces occupying the opposite riverbank, is often a target of airstrikes, despite Russia's denials.

“I can’t even take my daughter for a walk. There is no sense of normalcy,” Maria said, gazing at her newborn. “We have been forced to move to a safer area, but it hasn’t spared us from the horrors of war. Our house was destroyed in a drone attack last summer.”

Kherson, once a thriving Black Sea port with a rich cultural history, is now a shell of its former self. Before the invasion, it was known for its vibrant coastal life, with 80 percent of residents in a 2021 survey rating it a great place to live. Today, it has become a city of survival, with many of its inhabitants, especially the elderly, too afraid or unable to leave.

Among those who remain, humanitarian workers like Aleksander Dorofeyev have returned to the region despite the risks. Working with the Polish Centre for International Aid, Dorofeyev provides support to the disabled and immobile, but the work comes with constant danger.

“I was once followed by a drone while inspecting a renovation project,” he recalls. “They are almost impossible to escape. In the city, it’s like there is no way out.”

Local officials report that 30 to 60 drones fly over Kherson each day, hunting civilians and creating an atmosphere of constant fear. Russia denies targeting civilians, but this has been refuted by global rights organizations and Ukrainian witnesses. Anton Yefanov, Kherson’s deputy mayor, stated, “Russians are not just terrorizing the population; they are training on civilians here. They practice in Kherson before moving to the more challenging areas like Donetsk.”

In response to increasing drone activity, residents have few options for protection. Shelters like concrete bus stops offer little safety, and most prefer to stay indoors to avoid becoming targets.

As Kherson’s destruction continues, many question whether this nightmare will ever end. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of annexing Kherson in 2022 remains an unattainable goal, as Ukrainian forces defend the city and remain out of reach of Russian drones.

“It’s a psychological strategy,” says Volodymyr Molchanov, a political expert from Odesa. “The aim is to terrorize civilians, force them to leave, and create a demographic void to make it easier for Russia to control the region.”

The horrors of war continue to unfold in Kherson, with residents clinging to hope as they navigate an uncertain future. Despite the ongoing devastation, the people of Kherson endure, holding onto the thin thread of survival amid a relentless campaign of fear and destruction.