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Russia’s Drone Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians Constitute Crimes Against Humanity, UN Investigation Finds
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
A United Nations inquiry has concluded that Russian forces are deliberately using drones to harass and attack civilians living near the frontline in Ukraine, forcing thousands from their homes in actions that constitute a crime against humanity.
This was reported by Reuters on October 27, citing the report issued by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
The report describes a coordinated policy by Russian forces to drive out the local population. Investigators found evidence of civilians being chased over long distances by camera-equipped drones. These individuals were often attacked with explosives or incendiary devices as they desperately sought shelter.
The 17-page document, set to be presented to the UN General Assembly this week, states that these actions “amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of population.” The findings are based on 226 interviews with victims, witnesses, aid workers, and officials, supplemented by hundreds of verified online videos. The documented attacks occurred over a period exceeding a year in three southern Ukrainian regions near the front line and across the Dnipro River from Russian positions.
According to Reuters, Russia officially denies intentionally targeting civilians, despite its forces having killed thousands since the full-scale invasion began three and a half years ago.
One harrowing case cited involves a woman in Kherson who was pursued by a drone in August 2024 as she parked her car. She was attacked and injured while seeking refuge in her garage, followed by a second drone strike on her home the same day, ultimately forcing her to abandon it.
Erik Mose, Chair of the Inquiry, told Reuters that there is “no doubt about these drone operators acting with intent.” He emphasized that the perpetrators are “really pursuing human beings, be they in their gardens, at home or in the street.” The attacks have caused a sharp population decrease, leaving behind mostly the elderly and those with impairments. Disturbingly, some survivors interviewed said they felt “hunted,” a term the perpetrators themselves have reportedly used in online drone footage.
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The systematic nature of the attacks extends to emergency personnel. According to Reuters, the report notes that fire brigades, medics, and first responders have also been hit, stripping locals of essential emergency services. The Commission previously classified such drone attacks as the crime against humanity of murder, but the new report extends this finding to include forcible transfer across a broader area spanning over 300 km (180 miles).
The inquiry also documented coordinated Russian actions to deport or transfer civilians from parts of the Zaporizhzhia region under their control, which constitutes war crimes.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, spoke out against Russia’s decision to leave the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. Lubinets stated that this withdrawal serves as clear evidence of the Kremlin’s consistent use of torture and other inhumane methods.
