Drones and the Dark Side of Modern Warfare

Deliberate Strategy to Spread Fear and Force Evacuations

In a shocking revelation, a United Nations human rights body has uncovered a disturbing pattern of Russian drone attacks on civilians in Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine. These attacks, which have been happening for over a year, are not random acts of violence but a deliberate strategy to spread fear and force people to leave their homes. The report, released recently, accuses Russia of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Targeting Civilians and Emergency Services

The drones, operated by Russian forces, have been used to drop grenades on civilians going about their daily lives, such as walking on sidewalks or working in their gardens. They have also targeted emergency services, like ambulances and fire brigades, even hovering over burning buildings to drop grenades on firefighters as they arrive. This tactic is known by Ukrainians as a "drone safari," highlighting the cruel and calculated nature of these attacks.

Forcible Transfer of Population

The report suggests that these attacks are part of a larger plan to drive civilians out of the area, amounting to a crime against humanity known as forcible transfer of population. Russia, however, denies targeting civilians and has refused to cooperate with the investigation. This denial is despite the fact that Russian military units often release videos of these drone attacks, seemingly to intimidate and threaten more people.

Increasing Use of Drones in Warfare

The use of drones in warfare has been increasing, and so has their involvement in war crimes. The drones used in these attacks are small, with a range of about 6 miles. They either hover and drop grenades or fly into targets and explode. The attacks have been so frequent that the city of Kherson has had to erect miles of net canopies over its streets to try and block the drones.

Detailed Report on Russian Drone Attacks

The report is one of the most detailed to date on Russian drone attacks on civilians in Kherson and other front-line areas. It estimates that these attacks have killed over 200 civilians and injured 2,000 others in the past year. Investigators spoke to 226 people, including victims and first responders, and reviewed more than 500 videos.

Paradox of Drone Warfare

One of the paradoxes of drone warfare is that while it removes the operator from the battlefield, it also provides them with a close-up view of the violence. This was a key factor in the UN's allegation of war crimes. The report also showed that these tactics are being used across a wide area of the front, under a centralized command.

Constant State of Fear and Uncertainty

The report suggests that these tactics are working, keeping residents of Kherson and other riverfront towns in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. It quoted a woman living in one of these areas as saying, "It's a lottery - will a drone fly in or not? You go to bed and don't know if you will be killed or wake up in the morning."