Kherson drone attack footage released on Tuesday shows a drone pursuing a civilian market vendor before exploding, prompting Ukraine to accuse Russia of committing a war crime.
Ukrainian police said the video depicts an unidentified man in his 50s being chased around a van used as a street stand in Kherson.
The vendor survived but suffered shock and shrapnel injuries after diving for cover behind the vehicle.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it a “barbaric Russian war crime” that demands international condemnation.
“The pilot would have been aware they were targeting a civilian,” Sybiha said, branding the operator a “sadist.”
Russia War Crime Allegation Sparks Global Outrage
The Russia war crime allegation was amplified by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged the world to watch the circulating video.
“The world must see” the footage, Zelensky wrote on X on Tuesday.
“Without pressure on Russia, the dismantling of its capacity for aggression, and real security guarantees, it is simply impossible to imagine the world being able to coexist with this evil,” he added.
Zelensky said the deliberate targeting of civilians must force Russia to “seriously think about peace rather than expanding the range of its drones.”
Reuters verified the location using buildings, road layout and vegetation matching satellite imagery from Kherson.
The exact date could not be independently confirmed, but Ukrainian police and Sybiha said the incident occurred on Tuesday.
Volodymyr Zelensky Drone Video Used To Demand Accountability
The Volodymyr Zelensky drone video has been shared widely on social media as evidence of a new tactic in the war.
Ukraine argues the clip shows a shift from military targets to deliberate intimidation of civilians.
“We must remain resolute in defending life,” Zelensky posted. “We must act and support life in ways that force Russia to change course.”
Police described the vendor as a market trader selling goods from a van, a common sight in Kherson’s frontline neighborhoods.
The man was chased around the vehicle before the drone detonated nearby, sending debris flying.
Medics treated him for shock and shrapnel wounds, police confirmed.
Ukrainian officials say this is part of a broader Russian campaign to terrorize populations near the Dnipro River.
Moscow has not commented on the specific incident as of Tuesday afternoon.
The Kremlin typically denies targeting civilians and blames Ukraine for staging or misrepresenting footage.
But Kyiv says the clarity of the video makes denial difficult.
International law experts note that intentionally attacking civilians is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions.
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If verified, the act could be added to ongoing war crimes investigations by the ICC.
Sybiha called on allies to increase pressure, including more air defense and sanctions.
“Justice must follow,” he wrote. “Civilians are not targets.”
The incident comes amid a wider escalation in drone warfare across the region.
Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian drones struck three warehouses in Russia, including two linked to retailer Wildberries.
Russian officials said five people were killed in those strikes, including five in a warehouse fire in Chekhov, Moscow region.
Wildberries facilities in Tver and near St Petersburg were also damaged, with no casualties reported there.
Kyiv says hitting logistics hubs is meant to bring the war home to Russian civilians and disrupt the economy.
Moscow frames it as terrorism against ordinary people.
In Russian-annexed Crimea, four people were killed after a soldier opened fire on fellow troops and civilians.
Moscow-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the gunman killed one soldier and wounded another.
He then killed three civilians in Khmelnytske village and injured three more before being detained.
Authorities have not released a motive, and it remains unclear if the death toll will rise.
In Odesa, rescuers worked at the site of a Russian missile strike that injured 10 people.
Images showed craters, damaged buildings and emergency crews battling blazes.
Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting dozens of Russian drones overnight.
Britain also announced a £135 million contract with BAE Systems to maintain Royal Navy torpedoes.
The three-year deal, starting July 2026, will sustain around 315 jobs, the defence ministry said.
Back in Kherson, residents described fear and anger after the drone video spread.
Local volunteers said market traders are now avoiding open stalls due to drone activity.
“People are scared to sell bread,” one volunteer told Ukrainian media. “They think the sky is watching.”
Human rights groups have documented similar incidents in frontline towns since 2024.
Drones equipped with cameras allow operators to identify and follow individuals, raising new legal questions.
Ukraine argues this crosses the line from reconnaissance to targeted harassment.
Russia has increased drone production and range, making deeper strikes possible.
The US has responded by tripling Patriot missile production to help Ukraine and other partners.
Officials cite strain from both the Iran and Ukraine wars on stockpiles.
Zelensky has repeatedly asked for more air defense to protect cities and civilians.
He said Monday that without real security guarantees, peace is impossible.
The Kherson video has renewed calls for a special tribunal on Russian aggression.
European leaders condemned the footage in statements Tuesday morning.
They stopped short of announcing new measures but pledged continued support for Ukraine.
Sybiha said condemnation must be matched with weapons and accountability mechanisms.
“Barbarism cannot go unanswered,” he stated.
The vendor’s survival has been cited by Kyiv as proof that civilians are being hunted, not hit accidentally.
Police said he managed to dive behind the van seconds before detonation.
That timing, they argue, shows the operator was watching and adjusting in real time.
Military analysts say first-person-view drones are increasingly used for such pursuits.
Their low cost and maneuverability make them hard to counter without electronic warfare.
Ukraine is deploying more jammers and anti-drone guns along civilian areas.
But gaps remain, especially in rural markets and roads.
The civilian targeting Ukraine narrative is now central to Kyiv’s diplomacy.
Officials are presenting the Kherson clip to the UN Security Council and EU partners.
They hope it will accelerate sanctions and military aid.
For Zelensky, the video is both evidence and a rallying tool.
“See this and act,” he urged. “Life depends on it.”
Whether the footage leads to concrete action remains to be seen.
For the man in Kherson, the attack ended in injuries, not death.
For Ukraine, it has become the latest symbol of a war fought in the open, on camera.
