A young Ukrainian cyclist freezes as a Russian drone approaches, then desperately attempts to flee on foot before being struck. The footage, posted on the Russian military’s official Telegram account, shows the attack in Kramatorsk near the front lines of the Donetsk region.
The video’s description claims the drone eliminated an “enemy combatant,” despite the cyclist being clearly unarmed and dressed in civilian clothing. Independent Russian media outlet Astra quickly condemned the footage as an attempt to misrepresent a civilian attack.
The video rapidly spread across social media, drawing condemnation from international voices including former chess champion Garry Kasparov, before being removed within 48 hours.
Two Years of Systematic Attacks
This incident represents just one example of what Ukrainian officials and international observers call “human safaris”—the deliberate targeting of civilians by explosive-laden drones. These attacks have intensified since July 2024, particularly in Kherson, where Russian forces across the Dnipro River regularly deploy short-range drones against residents.
“Initially, small quadcopters followed individuals and vehicles and dropped explosives,” explained Will Kingston-Cox, a specialist in Russia and the Ukraine war. “Since then, we have seen FPV impact drones expanding the practice in scale, frequency and geography. Documented targets include pedestrians, cyclists, private cars, buses, ambulances and rescue workers.”
In Kherson, residents have adapted their daily routines to avoid detection, venturing out only in poor weather conditions when drones cannot operate effectively. Drivers speed recklessly and avoid seatbelts to maximize escape time if a drone appears overhead.
Watch moreKherson under fire: The reality behind the Russian drone strikes
“Those seconds are so precious,” said Olga Tokariuk, a specialist at Chatham House. “People wouldn’t use their seatbelts when they’re driving, because they need to get out of the car really quickly if they see a drone.”
The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has condemned these attacks as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, noting roughly 150 civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries in Kherson region alone since late 2024.
“They are targeting precisely not only civilians in their day-to-day life, but also hospitals and shops and very basic things that sustain day-to-day life for people,” said Ivan Klyszcz of the Centre of Defence and Security in Tallinn. “There’s definitely a pressure on the civilian population, and inevitably this leads to people relocating.”
While the exact origins remain unclear, Veronika Hinman of the University of Portsmouth noted that these attacks appear tolerated by Russian military leadership rather than representing rogue elements.
“That discrepancy made the video both a propaganda liability and potentially important evidence,” Kingston-Cox observed regarding the recent Kramatorsk incident. “Reputational and legal containment appears more plausible” as the reason for its removal.
Nevertheless, Tokariuk emphasized that these tactics will likely persist. “These drones are cheap to operate—they’re flying the distances that they need to. In those border regions they use drones because it works. It really keeps civilians in terror. It makes people flee.”
The systematic nature of these attacks raises concerns about imitation by other actors, as civilians remain completely defenseless against such low-cost but deadly technology.
This article has been adapted from the original in French.
