A UN human rights commission has determined that Russia's unmanned aerial vehicle strikes on civilian populations in south-eastern Ukraine constitute violations of international law and grave breaches of the laws of war.
Systematic Targeting of Non-Military Targets
In a recently published report, the commission declared that Moscow's military, operating under a centralized command structure, had methodically used drones to "intentionally strike civilians and civilian infrastructure and inflict damage and destruction".
The inquiry was carried out by the United Nations' autonomous international commission on Ukraine, which functions autonomously while submitting findings to the UN. The most recent document examined three specific areas of Ukraine – the Kherson region, Mykolaiv oblast and Dnipropetrovsk province – which are located near the front line and where drone attacks have significantly increased in frequency over the past year.
Relentless Assaults on Civilian Life
In these areas, the combat zone follows the Dnipro River, and researchers found that Moscow's unmanned aircraft dispatched over the front lines had repeatedly targeted civilians and their homes, along with meeting places, humanitarian distribution points, and essential facilities that support local communities. Often, the strikes targeted the same places multiple times. UAV controllers have also targeted ambulance crews and fire brigades.
Types of Drones Used
The attacking forces have utilized different types of "compact, short-range, and inexpensive" drones, typically equipped with cameras and a navigation system, in these operations. Some of them detonate upon contact while different types release munitions from overhead. These drones are distinct from the larger, long-range drones that Russia uses to bombard urban areas across Ukraine on a almost daily basis.
Human Toll and Research Methods
Citing local authorities, the report estimated that over 200 non-combatants have been fatally injured by short-range Moscow's UAVs in the affected areas over the past year, with two thousand sustaining wounds. The report's authors conducted over 200 interviews and reviewed over 500 pieces of video evidence.
Juridical Classification of Attacks
According to the document, the UAV strikes constitute murder, as well as the war crime of deliberately targeting civilians. It also determined that the strikes were carried out "within the framework of a systematic strategy to force out residents from these areas and represent the international crime of forcible transfer of civilian population".
Mental Effects on Civilians
Residents of the Kherson area have recounted the grim reality of living under continuous danger of precision UAV attacks, explaining how simple trips around the city had become a dangerous ordeal where death could strike at any time.
"I could hear the UAV approaching as the bus arrived but I thought it would follow the transport, because that's their pattern, they hunt the public transport," said one resident. "However when it departed the unmanned aircraft was remaining and I realized even though I ran after the vehicle it would get me. There was nowhere to hide."
The person sustained shrapnel injuries to his head when the UAV detonated. "Drones are far more terrifying than artillery, you can hear the firing and its trajectory," he said. "With a drone, it's [suddenly] there, it sees you, and you are done."
Strategy of Terror
The United Nations investigation suggested that one aspect of the rationale behind Russia's actions was to create an environment of terror and compel civilians to leave areas close to the combat area. It cited one woman who resided in an location regularly attacked by drones who spoke about the psychological impact: "It is a lottery – will a drone fly in or not? When you sleep and you're uncertain if you will be killed or awaken in the next day."
Russian Response and Investigation Challenges
The Russian government has consistently rejected claims of attacking non-combatants, but over nearly four years of large-scale conflict in Ukraine, Moscow's projectiles and UAVs have regularly struck civilian areas. Russian authorities declined to participate in the United Nations investigation. The investigators stated they had additionally attempted to investigate reports of UAV strikes by Ukrainian forces against civilian targets in territories controlled by Russia, but had been unable to do so due to a lack of engagement from Moscow.
"The Russian Federation continued not recognising the investigative body and thirty-five formal inquiries for entry, data, and meetings, were left unanswered," the report declared.
