“The hunt has begun” • Ukraine’s response: “Operation to destroy civilian life”
The small drones manufactured in China are actually designed to be used for filming and photography. But Russia has rebuilt them to be able to terrorize the Kherson region, and above all in the city with which it shares its name.
The attacks have been targeting civilians and began intensifying in July – more than 5,000 attacks were carried out in August and September alone, reports The Guardian.
Glides through the air defenses
The simple drones are controlled on frequencies that the Ukrainians cannot knock out with their defense against drones. At the same time, they are too small to be detected by traditional air defense.
On social media, several Russian soldiers have posted videos showing civilians being attacked. There they brag about how the attacks were carried out and that anything that moves is a target.
“The hunt has begun,” writes one account, sharing a video of a civilian van being attacked.
“Worse than artillery”
The attacks have been directed at school buses, civilians walking in the street and at residential buildings. The residents of Kherson have more or less adapted to the threat of the difficult-to-fight drone attacks.
– Drones are much worse than artillery, then you can hear the launch and where it flies. But a drone is suddenly there, it sees you and you’re finished, says Dima Olifrenko to the Guardian.
He lives in Kherson and is one of those affected by the attacks. He was standing at a bus stop when a shell suddenly hit. Today, he has several stitches along his cheek.
He thought the drone would follow the bus, as they usually do.
– But when the bus pulled away, the drone was still there and I realized that even if I ran after the bus, it would catch me. There was nowhere to hide, says Dima.
Systematic planned surgery
During the war, drones have been used extensively by both sides, but the simpler models only have a range of around 15 kilometers. The big problem for Kherson is that it is right next to the Dnieper River – which forms the front line against Russia in the occupied part of the region.
– This is a systematic well-planned operation to destroy civilian life in Kherson, Serhii Kuzan of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center told The Guardian.
He believes that Russia’s purpose in striking civilians in Kherson is not a tactic to win over Ukraine on the battlefield.
– It is a way to destroy the civilian population so that the government will negotiate or capitulate, says Serhii Kuzan.