Zelensky accuses Russia of drone 'safari' after Kherson vegetable seller wounded
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of hunting civilians with drones after video footage emerged showing a small unmanned aircraft chasing and wounding a vegetable seller in the southern city of Kherson. The incident, which police say occurred on Tuesday, has been labelled a war crime by Ukrainian officials and adds to a growing toll of civilian casualties in the conflict.
Video shared by Ukrainian police on social media shows a drone pursuing a man around a van being used as a street stand before exploding as he dives for cover behind the vehicle. Police said the man, identified only as Yurii, aged 52, survived but suffered shock and shrapnel injuries to both legs and his back. His wife, who was also present, ran off and was not injured.
Speaking from a hospital ward in a video released by the Kherson regional military administration, Yurii described the attack.
“I only just put up the umbrella and started unloading the boxes. My wife was there, too. Then we heard it buzzing but could not even see it. It came from somewhere behind the market, from those bushes over there, and flew in very low,” he said. “It is open steppe. There is nowhere to go. It is terrifying, of course. Really terrifying.”
President Zelensky responded on X, writing:
“Today, many were shocked by yet another video of the drone 'safari' Russians are carrying out against civilians in Kherson.” He added that “Russia has gone mad” and called for strong security guarantees for Ukraine, urging the international community to “force Russia to think seriously about peace rather than expanding the range of its drones.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack as part of a deliberate campaign to intimidate civilians.
“This barbaric Russian war crime in Kherson demands international condemnation and justice but thousands of similar crimes never come to the public eye,” he wrote on Telegram.
The location of the incident was verified by Reuters using satellite and archive imagery, though the exact date could not be independently confirmed. The Kherson region remains a flashpoint, with Ukrainian and Russian forces facing off across the Dnipro River. The regional capital lies within range of remote-controlled small drones, and there have been repeated reports of targeted attacks on civilians.
Civilian casualties surge in 2026
The incident comes amid a broader escalation in civilian harm. In July, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported 1,396 civilian deaths and 7,978 injuries in the first six months of 2026, a 37 per cent increase from 2025 and more than double the figures from 2024. The UN attributed the surge primarily to intensifying Russian long-range missile and drone strikes targeting cities far from the front lines.
Ukraine has also conducted drone and missile strikes on Russian territory, some of which have caused civilian casualties. On Monday, Russia accused Ukraine of terrorism after seven people, including three children, were killed at the Black Sea resort of Gelendzhik in what Moscow said was a deliberate Ukrainian drone attack. A Ukrainian official countered that the drone fell on the beach only because it was shot down by Russian air defences, adding that
“Ukraine uses its weapons exclusively against the Russian military-industrial complex and economic infrastructure facilities.”
Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war triggered by Russia's invasion in February 2022.
FAQ: Drone attacks on civilians in Ukraine
What is the legal status of drone attacks on civilians?
Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime. The use of drones to attack non-combatants, as alleged in the Kherson incident, would constitute a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
How common are drone attacks on civilians in this conflict?
Both sides have used drones extensively for reconnaissance and strikes. The UN has documented thousands of civilian casualties from drone and missile attacks, with a sharp increase in 2026 as long-range strikes intensify.
What is Australia's position on the conflict?
Australia has consistently supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing military aid and humanitarian assistance. The Australian government has condemned Russian attacks on civilians and called for accountability under international law.