Russian drones hunt civilians, evidence suggests

Just before noon one day Serhiy Dobrovolsky, a hardware trader, returned to his home in Kherson in southern Ukraine. He stepped into his yard, lit a cigarette and chatted with his next-door neighbour. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a drone buzzing overhead.

Angela, Serhiy's wife of 32 years, says she saw her husband run and take cover as the drone dropped a grenade. "He died before the ambulance arrived. I was told he was very unlucky, because a piece of shrapnel pierced his heart," she says, breaking down.

Serhiy is one of 30 civilians killed in a sudden surge in Russian drone attacks in Kherson since 1 July, the city’s military istration told the BBC. They have recorded more than 5,000 drone attacks over the same period, with more than 400 civilians injured.

Drones have changed warfare in Ukraine, with both Ukraine and Russia using them against military targets.

But the BBC has heard eyewitness testimony and seen credible evidence that suggest Russia is using drones also against civilians in the frontline city of Kherson.

"They can see who they are killing," says Angela. "Is this how they want to fight, by just bombing people walking in the streets"Dr Stephen Reaney is wearing a light-blue shirt and black puffer jacket. He is standing in an example of one of the tent-like hospital rooms he works in across the globe, which was on display at Dundonald Elim Church " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>