UN investigation: Russian drones pursue and expel Ukrainian civilians

2025-10-27 22:25:00, Politikë CNA

Russia has been using drones to target civilians living near the frontline in Ukraine, driving them from their homes, according to a United Nations investigation.

The investigation found that Russia hunted down civilians, forcing thousands of people to completely abandon entire areas, an act that constitutes a crime against humanity.

The Independent International and Investigative Commission on Ukraine report said civilians were followed over long distances by drones with mounted cameras, and then attacked with incendiary bombs or explosives as they tried to take shelter.

"These attacks were carried out as part of a coordinated policy to expel civilians from those lands, and constitute a crime against humanity for the forcible displacement of the population," the 17-page report, which is expected to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly this week, said.

The report's findings are based on interviews with 226 people, including victims, witnesses, aid workers and local authorities, as well as hundreds of verified online videos.

The attacks described in the report took place in three regions in southern Ukraine, near the front line and across the Dnipro River, and were carried out by Russian forces over a period of more than a year.

Russia denies targeting civilians in Ukraine, although its forces have killed thousands of civilians since the full-scale invasion began three and a half years ago.

A woman from Kherson was followed by a drone in August 2024 while parking her car, and was then attacked and injured while trying to take shelter in her garage, the report said.

The same day, two more drones arrived and hit her house, which she then abandoned.

Drone attacks have caused a significant population decline in some areas, the report says, leaving only the elderly and disabled.

"There can be no doubt that the operators of these drones act intentionally," Erik Mose, the head of the investigation, told Reuters.

"They are deliberately following people, whether in their gardens, homes or on the streets," he added.

Some of the survivors interviewed by UN investigators said they felt "like they were being hunted", and Mose added that the perpetrators had used the same term in videos posted online from drones.

Fire brigades, doctors and other first aid teams have also been hit, leaving residents without emergency services where they need them most, the report said.

The report also documents that Russian authorities have coordinated actions to expel or relocate civilians from areas under their control in the Zaporizhia region, which, according to the report, constitutes a war crime./ REL