Russia uses Ukrainian civilians as "practice targets" for UAV operators

The Financial Times reported the information.

According to the outlet, since mid-summer, the civilian population of Ukraine’s Kherson has become the subject of an experiment, with Russian troops using them to train attack UAV operators. The drones, sometimes flying in swarms, hover over houses, penetrate buildings, and chase people in cars, on bicycles, or simply walking on foot.

The head of the Kherson regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, expressed the belief that the Russians are effectively "hunting" civilians, highlighting the psychological impact this has on individuals.

Since mid-July, Kherson and nearby villages along the western bank of the Dnipro River have faced over 9,500 attacks with small drones, resulting in at least 37 deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to the head of the Kherson regional military administration, the regional prosecutor's office, and the police.

Prokudin stated that Russian forces are launching the most advanced drone models from the opposite bank of the city center, continuously improving their combat methods and training new operators.

The CIR project analyzed and verified Russian military Telegram channels, finding that the "vast majority" of attacks were targeted either at moving or stationary vehicles.

• On Tuesday, December 3, the Russian army shelled Bilozerka, Kherson region, with artillery, killing a man and injuring two others.