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Published on: 02/21/2026 - 06:40

Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have transformed the battlefield. But they also brought the war to the doors of every Ukrainian home. Whether they are small drones called FPV or long-range Shahed drones, these devices are used to terrorize civilians. In a special report in collaboration with RFI Ukraine, our Observers tell their daily reality.

In southern Ukraine, on the banks of the Dnieper River, opposite the Russian army, the city of Kherson has become a hunting ground for what locals call a "human safari". Russian forces are using drones to target civilians – whether they are on foot, in cars, or even on bicycles. FPV drones, for “first-person view”, allow operators to see in real time what the drone is filming.

“Everyone heard the sound of a drone”

For the residents of Kherson, these drones have become a daily threat. Our observer Alla, who lives in the city, told us:

"Everyone has heard the sound of a drone. When they hear the sound of a drone, children of all ages point to the sky and say 'Drone! Drone!' It is recommended to drive with the windows open in dangerous areas, because you cannot hear the sound of the drone in a closed car. No one will warn you in the event of an attack. So everyone relies on their hearing. When there is the sound of a whistling sound, it means that we have three seconds to hide somewhere."

The danger is not limited to the city. We spoke with a farmer from the Kherson region:

"It's very difficult. I see drone attacks all the time. We've especially felt it this year, because there have been more strikes than ever. There have been a lot of fires caused by drone attacks. A drone comes in, falls into the field and the wheat burns. It's very unpredictable. It's not like a missile attack where we're warned in advance."

War crimes and crimes against humanity

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), at least 577 civilians were killed by short-range drones in Ukraine in 2025, and more than 3,000 were injured. Nearly 95% of civilian casualties were recorded in territories controlled by the Ukrainian government.

In a report published in October 2025 and devoted to the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine estimated that “short-range drone attacks by the Russian armed forces […] constitute a crime against humanity […] as well as war crimes”.

“Most strikes take place when people are sleeping peacefully”

FPV drones are not the only ones in the Russian arsenal. To strike cities behind the front, Russia also uses larger, faster and much more powerful drones: the Shahed. The purpose of this device with a range of 1,800 kilometers is to harass the civilian population.

Less expensive than missiles, these Shahed drones are produced in very large numbers. Every night, dozens of them descend on Ukrainian cities.

Maryna Averina, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Odessa region, explains:

"It starts in the evening. Sometimes, as early as 8 or 9 p.m., the sirens sound and the drones strike. But according to our experience and our statistics, the peak is around 2, 3 or 4 a.m. That's when there are the most strikes, when people are sleeping peacefully."

“The drone was following us”

Since Ukraine's airspace was closed to passenger flights in 2022, the country's rail network has become an essential service — but also a major target of Russian drone attacks.

On January 27, 2026, three Shahed drones targeted a passenger train in the Kharkiv region. Anatoly Tymotsko was a train conductor when the attack occurred:

"I remember everything. The drivers stopped the train by applying emergency braking because a drone hit in front of the locomotive. This brought it to a standstill. I went out to the vestibule door and I heard the sound of a moped - it was the sound of the Shahed drone. When I leaned down, I saw it coming from the rear of the train. It was heading towards us. It was following us. The evacuation of the passengers was ordered. Unfortunately, it hit the 16th car. It was not a coincidence. They deliberately directed the strike there."

According to the local prosecutor's office, six people were killed in this attack.

The HRMMU recorded 684 civilians killed in 2025 in territories controlled by Ukraine by long-range weapons (long-range missiles and drones). More than 4,000 people were injured. This represents 35% of civilian casualties in Ukraine that year.

The year 2025 was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since 2022.

Click the player above to see the full report.

This report was produced in collaboration with RFI Ukraine.

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