Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of war crime after drone attack in Kherson

On August 4, 2026, Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of committing a war crime following the release of video footage depicting a drone pursuing and striking a street vendor in the city of Kherson. The footage, circulated by the Ukrainian police, shows a drone hunting an unidentified man in his 50s as he attempts to seek cover behind a van used for selling vegetables. The drone detonated near the victim, who survived the attack but sustained shrapnel wounds and shock.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the incident on X, characterizing it as a 'drone safari' against civilians. Ukrainian officials view the persistent use of unmanned aerial vehicles in populated areas as a direct violation of international law. The attack highlights the severe and ongoing risks faced by non-combatants in the front-line city of Kherson, where such aerial strikes have become a recurring threat. The Ukrainian government has used this incident to reiterate its urgent call for increased international pressure on Russia and a demand for strengthened security guarantees to ensure the protection of its civilian population.