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First modification: 02/24/2026 - 17:16Last modification: 02/25/2026 - 15:03

Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have transformed the battlefield. But they have also brought the war to the doorstep of Ukrainian homes. Small drones known as FPV and long-range Shahed type drones are spreading terror among the civilian population. In a special report, carried out in collaboration with RFI Ukraine, our Observers tell the reality they face day after day.

Located in southern Ukraine, on the banks of the Dnieper River and in the line of fire of Russian forces, Kherson has become what its inhabitants describe as a "human safari." Russian troops use drones to hunt civilians indiscriminately: pedestrians, drivers, cyclists; no one is safe.

The devices used are FPV (First-Person View), a technology that allows operators to visualize in real time, with surgical precision, exactly what the drone "sees" before the fatal impact.

"Even children recognize the hum"

For the residents of Kherson, these drones represent an omnipresent threat. Alla, a collaborator of our program and a resident of the city, describes the anguish that has become everyday:

"Everyone here has heard the sound of a drone or seen it. Even the smallest children, when they hear the characteristic hum, point to the sky and shout: 'Drone! Drone!'. In the most exposed areas, it is recommended to drive with the windows open; inside a closed car it is impossible to detect the device and no one will be able to alert you to the danger. We depend only on our hearing to catch that sudden whistle. When we hear it, we only have three seconds to find shelter."

"It's a daily battle (...)This year has been especially brutal"

Danger also lurks in rural areas. A local farmer describes how these attacks have devastated the region's livelihood:

"It's a daily battle. Attacks? I see them constantly. This year has been especially brutal; the frequency is unprecedented. Many fires that devour our crops are caused by these devices. A drone descends on the field and the wheat catches fire in a matter of seconds. It is unpredictable: unlike missiles, there are no warning sirens that allow you to seek protection."

War crimes and crimes against humanity

Official figures reveal the magnitude of the horror. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, at least 577 civilians were killed by short-range drone strikes during 2025, while more than 3,000 were injured. 95% of these victims were in territories under Ukrainian control.

The UN Commission of Inquiry, in an October 2025 report focusing on the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, ruled that these systematic attacks against civilians constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"The Night Terror"

Tactical drones are not the only weapons in the Kremlin's arsenal. To attack the Ukrainian rear, Russia deploys the Shahed: drones of greater size, speed and destructive power, specifically designed for the psychological wear and tear of the population. Cheaper than conventional missiles, Shaheds are launched in nighttime swarms that collapse air defenses.

Maryna Averina, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service in Odessa, details the mechanics of the terror:

"The nightmare begins at dusk. The sirens generally activate between 8 and 9 at night, announcing the start of the bombings. However, our statistics show that the critical moment occurs between 2 and 4 in the morning, when they seek to surprise people in their deepest sleep."

Rail chase: "He hunted us"

With Ukrainian airspace closed since 2022, the railway network has become the country's umbilical cord, but also a priority strategic target. On January 27, 2026, three Shahed drones hit a passenger train in the Kharkiv region. Anatoly Tymotsko, the convoy's engineer, recounts the attack with chilling precision:

"I remember it vividly. We had to apply the emergency brake when a drone hit directly in front of the locomotive. As I came out into the lobby, I heard a roar similar to that of a small motorcycle: the unmistakable sound of the Shahed. I watched as one approached from the back of the train; it was coming directly towards us, it was hunting us. We evacuated the passengers as quickly as possible, but the impact against car 16 was inevitable. It was not a coincidence; they had us in mind. look at her."

The regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed that six people died in that attack.

A lethal year

During 2025, UN data recorded a total of 684 civilian deaths and more than 4,000 injuries due to long-range weapons, including missiles and drones. The year 2025 was thus established as the deadliest for the Ukrainian civilian population since the start of the large-scale invasion in February 2022.

This report was produced in collaboration with RFI Ukraine and adapted from its English original.

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