The U.N.’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has released a report stating that Russian armed forces have been “systematically” committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians with remote-controlled drones. According to the report published on Wednesday, Russian forces have periodically killed and injured civilians since July 2024 in a region extending over 100 kilometers along the right bank of the Dnipro River, including the city of Kherson and its surrounding areas.
The commission characterized the drone attacks as widespread, systematic, and executed as part of a coordinated state policy. “The attacks followed a regular pattern and the same modus operandi, demonstrating that they were planned, directed, and organized,” the report stated. It noted that there is no evidence suggesting that Russian military or civilian authorities have taken steps to prevent or stop these crimes, with nearly 150 civilians reported killed and hundreds more injured.
Victims of the attacks were primarily men, but the report also highlighted that women and children were targeted during their daily activities, whether on foot or in vehicles. In response, Ukraine’s foreign ministry condemned Russia’s actions as a “shameful tactic of terror against civilians that must be ended.”
Russia initially captured Kherson in March 2022, shortly after President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army recaptured the city eight months later, but not before Russia conducted sham referendums claiming the majority of Kherson's population supported joining Russia. However, international journalists who gained unauthorized access to Kherson prior to the Ukrainian government reported that residents celebrated their liberation and provided accounts of systematic torture experienced during the occupation.
In a move signaling ongoing tensions, President Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its military forces from Kherson and the surrounding region as a prerequisite for agreeing to a ceasefire. As the conflict continues, the impact on civilians and the urgency for accountability remain pressing issues on the international stage.
