A harrowing incident in Ukraine’s Kherson region has drawn international condemnation after a video surfaced of a drone pursuing a street vendor in what has been described as a “human safari” attack. This alarming footage, shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscores the ongoing use of drones by Russian forces to instil fear among civilians, raising serious questions about the ethics of warfare in the region.
The Disturbing Footage
In the video, a drone can be seen relentlessly chasing Yuriy, a 52-year-old vegetable seller, as he attempts to evade it on a bustling city street. Initially, Yuriy and his wife were setting up their vegetable stall when they heard the ominous sound of the drone overhead. As panic ensued, his wife fled, but the drone targeted Yuriy. He recalled raising vegetables to signal that he was not a threat, but the drone continued its pursuit, eventually crashing down and exploding upon impact. Fortunately, Yuriy survived, suffering from multiple shrapnel wounds, a concussion, and severe trauma, as confirmed by medical professionals.
President Zelensky took to Telegram to share the disturbing footage, stating, “The world must see this. It must see every piece of evidence that Russia has gone mad, and every fact that Russian soldiers are enjoying killings and tormenting people.” His comments highlight the need for global awareness regarding the brutal tactics employed in this ongoing conflict.
Official Reactions
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, condemned the drone strike as a “barbaric war crime,” asserting that such attacks are part of a systematic Russian strategy to intimidate civilians. “The sadist operating this drone knows full well that he is targeting a civilian,” he stated, calling for international condemnation and action against these atrocities.
The Kherson regional governor later shared a video of Yuriy recovering in hospital, providing a human face to the statistics of war. The local community continues to grapple with the repercussions of these drone attacks, which have become increasingly common in areas close to the front lines.
An Ongoing Crisis
The term “safari” has been used to describe these drone attacks, highlighting the horrific nature of the violence inflicted upon ordinary people. A report by the United Nations in 2025 noted that Russian armed forces had “recurrently killed and injured civilians” in the Kherson area, using drones as instruments of terror. The proliferation of videos depicting these tragic events has raised further ethical concerns, as they are often shared online, allowing thousands to witness the final moments of terrified victims. The UN has classified the posting of such videos as a war crime, stating it constitutes an “outrage upon personal dignity.”
Despite the clear evidence of civilian targeting, Russia continues to deny allegations of intentionally attacking non-combatants, insisting that its military operations
