UN: Russia’s Drone Operators Are Deliberately Targeting Civilians in Ukraine
Russian drone operators are deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine using short-range attack drones, a new report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has found, The Gaze reports.
The use of advanced “First-Person-View” (FPV) drones has surged along the frontlines, leading to a sharp rise in civilian casualties, in some months, surpassing even missile and artillery strikes.
The HRMMU’s findings confirm that drone operators have intentionally struck individuals with no involvement in hostilities, including people riding bicycles, driving cars, traveling on buses and ambulances, or walking outside their homes.
These attacks violate the principles of distinction and precaution under international humanitarian law (IHL), and some may amount to war crimes.
“These drones are not just more precise — they are being used to hit civilians with disturbing accuracy,” the report states.
FPV drones, equipped with live cameras, give Russian operators a real-time view of their targets. In principle, this visibility should help avoid civilian harm, but instead, it has been used to strike aid workers, evacuees, and everyday residents going about their lives.
The UN documented that most of these attacks occurred in areas under the control of the Ukrainian government.
Victims include people delivering humanitarian aid, elderly individuals who could not evacuate, and disabled persons, who are disproportionately affected in the conflict due to their inability to flee.
In addition to the immediate human toll, the UN warns that drone strikes are worsening the humanitarian crisis by blocking access to food, healthcare, and basic services.
“The attacks have affected a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, food, and an adequate standard of living, and healthcare,” the HRMMU concluded.
The UN calls for robust international measures to stop the deliberate targeting of civilians by drones. It urges thorough investigations into violations and accountability for those responsible.
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