Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released footage depicting a drone pursuing and injuring a 52-year-old vegetable vendor, asserting that the “world must see” what he denounced as Russia’s “drone safari.” The man, identified as Yurii, sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs and his back but managed to survive the attack.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has led to a concerning rise in civilian casualties, primarily attributed to escalating Russian missile and drone strikes targeting urban areas far removed from the front lines, according to the United Nations.
Ukraine has labeled the drone incident as a war crime after a video emerged showing the drone chasing Yurii in the southern city of Kherson. The footage, released by Ukrainian law enforcement and shared online by Zelenskyy, depicts the drone pursuing Yurii as he attempts to take cover behind a street vendor’s van, ultimately resulting in an explosion as he ducks for safety.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Zelenskyy expressed the necessity for global awareness of the brutal tactics employed by Russian forces. He emphasized, “It is crucial for the world to see this. Each piece of evidence demonstrates that Russia has descended into madness, with its soldiers deriving pleasure from the harm inflicted on civilians.” He further warned that without international pressure to dismantle Russia’s military capabilities and enforce genuine security guarantees, peaceful coexistence with such aggression would be unattainable.
The location of the drone strike has been corroborated by the Reuters news agency through satellite imagery that matched the road and vegetation seen in the footage. Although the specific date of the attack remains unverified, Ukrainian authorities have indicated that it occurred on Tuesday.
Yurii, who had gone to Kherson early that morning to sell his produce, recounted the harrowing experience in a hospital interview. “I had just set up the umbrella and started to unload my boxes. My wife was with me,” he recounted. “Then we heard the buzzing sound but were unable to see the drone. It came from behind the market, flying very low.” He described the environment as an open steppe, stating, “There is nowhere to go. It is terrifying, really terrifying.” He also noted that his wife managed to escape unharmed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the incident as part of a systematic Russian strategy aimed at instilling fear among civilians. He called for international condemnation and justice for what he termed a “barbaric Russian war crime” while noting that many similar incidents remain unreported.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported a significant increase in civilian casualties, documenting 1,396 deaths and 7,978 injuries in the first half of 2026—marking a 37 percent rise compared to 2025 and more than double the figures from 2024. This surge is largely attributed to intensified Russian strikes targeting civilian areas.
While Ukraine has also conducted drone and missile attacks against Russia, which have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, both nations deny deliberately targeting non-combatants. The conflict escalated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
