According to the mission of rights, while the majority (89%) of civilian victims were documented in the territory under Ukrainian control following attacks by the Russian armed forces, the others took place in the territory occupied by the Russian authorities, including in attacks which have struck public transport and clearly marked ambulances.
Although individually less destructive than artillery or missiles, “the scale and the growing frequency of short -range drone attacks have made it one of the deadliest weapons in Ukraine,” said Danielle Bell, HRMMU head.
Not in accordance with the laws of war
Forcing residents to considerably restrict their movements, limiting access to essential goods and affecting livelihoods, the large number of short -range drone attacks exacerbated an already disastrous humanitarian situation.
Most short -range drones have on -board cameras that offer operators a real -time view of potential targets.
However, the high number of civilian victims resulting from drone attacks suggests that these weapons have been deployed to violate international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of distinction and precaution, HRMMU noted.
In some cases, drone operators seem to have intentionally attacked civilians or civilian objects, including medical transport and staff, which would be equivalent to war crimes, he added.
“It is clear that these weapons are not used in accordance with the laws of war,” said Bell.
Call for responsibility
The information verified by the mission has shown that the number of civilian victims of short -range drones increased regularly at the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, before pivoting in July 2024 and reaching a record number in April 2025.
The victims continued in May and June, as during a strike on a minibus in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, on June 23, in which the 65 -year -old driver was killed.
On May 22, a 58 -year -old woman, a local volunteer, was killed in a front -line village in the Kharkiv region when a drone abandoned an ammunition on the balcony of a two -story residential building, according to the HRMMU.
“Each of these attacks must be studied,” said Bell.
“Managers target civilians and humanitarian staff must be held to account.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
