The human rights organization Human Rights Watch documented at least 45 drone strikes by Russian forces in several areas of Kherson, which appear to have targeted civilians and civilian objects, including infrastructure. In eight cases, witness testimonies are corroborated by video recordings. Videos of these and other strikes on civilians and civilian objects show that the drone operator was aware of the nature of the target, indicating a deliberate strike.
The findings of Human Rights Watch are based on interviews with 59 people, most of which were conducted in person in Kherson in November 2024, and others remotely from October 2024 to March 2025. Among them are 36 survivors and witnesses of Russian drone attacks. Human Rights Watch also analyzed 83 videos of drone attacks published on Russian military-affiliated Telegram channels, as well as videos and photographs taken by witnesses.
Starting in June 2024, Russian forces increasingly used quadcopters to attack civilians and civilian objects in Kherson. According to the data from the executive committee of the Kherson city council, from May 1 to December 16, 2024, at least 30 civilians were killed and another 483 were injured as a result of drone attacks in Kherson.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks intentionally directed against civilians and civilian objects. Nevertheless, Russian forces using unmanned aerial vehicles frequently carry out attacks on individual civilians, civilian property, and infrastructure in Kherson. Russian unmanned aerial vehicles were armed with prohibited anti-personnel mines and used to carry out incendiary weapon strikes on populated areas, which is illegal.
Human Rights Watch identified quadcopters produced by three different companies that Russian forces used for attacks on civilians in Kherson: two Chinese companies producing commercial drones, DJI and Autel, as well as one model produced by the Russian company Sudoplatov, which calls itself a "volunteer organization." In response to letters from human rights activists, companies DJI and Autel confirmed reports that their drones are used by Russian forces for combat purposes, but emphasized that such use is inconsistent with their companies' policies, and provided information on measures they are taking to prevent the potential use of their drones for such purposes.