Horror in Ukraine: Russian 'Safari' Drone Strike Claims Civilian Lives
A recent Russian drone attack on a bus in Kherson killed four and injured several, prompting strong condemnation from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy over the deliberate targeting of civilians. This incident adds to a pattern of escalating civilian casualties in Ukraine, highlighted by a UN report noting record-high deaths in July, while Russia also reported an increase in civilian casualties on its own territories.
A Russian drone attack on a bus in Kherson, southern Ukraine, tragically claimed the lives of four people and left several others injured on Wednesday, according to a statement from the regional prosecutor's office. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, sharing images of the damaged bus on X and asserting that it was "absolutely clear" that the vehicle was carrying civilian passengers. Zelenskyy vehemently denounced the incident, stating that the "vicious Russian 'safari' against our people in Kherson has long gone beyond anything a normal person could imagine."
Ukrainian authorities have consistently accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians in the city of Kherson. Earlier this month, Ukraine alleged that Russia specifically targeted a civilian at a market in Kherson, with police remarking in a Telegram post, “This is exactly how the Russians are fighting their war — they deliberately target civilians,” and noting that the individual in the video showed no signs of being a combatant, but was simply selling produce. Police have previously reported that Russian forces are using drones daily against civilians, vehicles, public transport, and emergency workers in Kherson.
This latest attack on the bus follows closely on the heels of another significant incident just a week prior, when Russia targeted two passenger trains in Ukraine's Odesa region, resulting in two fatalities and injuries to a child. The escalating civilian toll is further corroborated by a recent report from the United Nations, which revealed a concerning increase in civilian deaths over the past year. In July, the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine reached a record-high, the highest since May 2022, marking the initial months of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported on Thursday that "at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July, a 30 percent increase compared with the previous month and a 70 percent increase compared with July of the previous year." The UN body also cited Russian authorities, who reported an increase in civilian casualties on their own territories, with 250 civilians killed and 1,596 injured in the first six months of 2026, marking a 121% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
In broader attacks overnight into Wednesday, Russia launched two ballistic missiles and 65 drones across Ukraine, as reported by local media. In Zaporizhzhia, two people were killed and at least ten injured by Russian drone strikes, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Additionally, in the Donetsk region, Russian attacks resulted in one death and four injuries, Governor Vadym Filashkin stated.