Ukraine’s National Police released a shocking video on Tuesday showing a Russian drone deliberately hunting down a civilian man at a farmers’ market in Kherson, calling it another war crime.
“This is exactly how the Russians are fighting their war — they deliberately target civilians,” the police said in a Telegram post, noting that the man in the video “shows no signs of being a combatant, he is simply selling vegetables and fruit at the market.”
“However, for the armed forces of the aggressor country, he is still a target.”
The 52-year old, who was selling vegetables survived the attack but suffered blast injuries, shrapnel wounds and concussion, police said.
Law enforcement agencies said they were working to document “yet another war crime” committed by Russian forces.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the footage was another example of what he called Russian “drone safari” against civilians in Kherson, adding that Moscow’s forces showed “zero regret” and even boasted about the attack.
“A Russian drone deliberately hunted down a man selling vegetables and detonated right next to him,” he said, adding that Russian forces had “even admitted to the crime.”
He said the world must see the evidence of Russia’s campaign against civilians and back stronger pressure, security guarantees and efforts to curb its ability to wage war.
Police said Russian forces have been using drones against civilians, vehicles, public transport and emergency workers in Kherson almost daily.
They said 18 civilians were injured and two killed in Kherson region on Sunday alone.
The Kherson region remains partially occupied by Russian forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
Kherson city, on the opposite bank, is under constant attack because of its proximity to occupied territory and the limits of Ukrainian air defences.
Improvised anti-drone netting now cover major roads leading into the city centre.
