Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of committing a war crime after a drone pursued a civilian at a marketplace in Kherson [1, 2].
The incident highlights the increasing use of first-person view (FPV) drones to target individuals in non-combat zones. This shift in tactics raises significant concerns regarding the protection of non-combatants under international law.
Video footage shows a Russian FPV drone chasing a 52-year-old market vendor [2]. The drone hovered for a period before exploding a few meters away from the man [1, 2].
Ukrainian officials said the act was a deliberate attempt to target a civilian. According to the reports, one person was injured in the attack, and there were no deaths [1].
The city of Kherson, located in southern Ukraine, has seen frequent drone activity since the conflict escalated. Authorities said the targeting of a vendor in a public market constitutes a violation of international legal standards [1].
While other reports mentioned separate drone strikes on buses resulting in higher casualties, the specific incident at the Kherson market resulted in only one injury [1, 2].
“A Russian FPV drone pursued a civilian market vendor in Kherson, hovered and then exploded.”
The use of FPV drones for precision targeting of civilians represents a tactical evolution in the conflict. By documenting these incidents through video, Ukraine aims to build a legal evidentiary record for future war crimes prosecutions in international courts.
