Escalating drone attacks target civilians in Ukrainian cities

Russian forces have intensified aerial strikes against the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, resulting in significant civilian destruction, including the recent bombing of Kateryna Lahuta’s seafood business. Residents and officials report that the nature of these attacks has evolved, with a new wave of strikes characterized by the frequent use of first-person-view (FPV) drones to target individuals and vehicles on the streets, a practice increasingly referred to by locals as a 'safari'.

This shift in tactics is part of an broader escalation in Russia’s air war against Ukrainian urban centers, occurring while Russian ground forces maintain positions south of Zaporizhzhia, a major manufacturing city with approximately 700,000 inhabitants. Evidence of these tactics includes a recent video released by Ukrainian authorities showing a drone pursuing and wounding a vegetable seller in Kherson. The frequency of these strikes has created a heightened atmosphere of insecurity, as the presence of agile, low-flying drones has made daily life increasingly perilous for residents who remain under constant threat while conducting routine activities.