Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out another deliberate drone attack on a civilian after footage emerged showing a street vendor being pursued through the streets of Kherson before an explosive drone struck him. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the video exposed what he described as Russia's "human safari" tactics, renewing calls for international condemnation over attacks on civilians near the front line. Terrifying Chase Captured on Camera The footage shows a drone hovering above a market area before chasing a man around a white van as he desperately tries to escape. Moments later, the drone dives towards him and explodes on impact. The victim, identified by regional officials as 52-year-old vegetable seller Yuriy, survived with shrapnel wounds, concussion and psychological trauma, according to medical staff. Speaking from his hospital bed, Yuriy said he and his wife had only just begun setting out tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines when they heard the distinctive sound of the drone overhead. He said he even held up heads of garlic towards the drone in an apparent attempt to show its operator he was an unarmed civilian, but the aircraft continued pursuing him before striking. Kyiv Alleges Deliberate Civilian Targeting Zelensky described the incident as evidence that Russian forces were intentionally terrorising civilians. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack a "barbaric war crime", arguing the drone operator knowingly targeted a non-combatant. Russia has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The footage was geolocated by BBC Verify to a market area in Kherson's Tavriiskyi district. It remains unclear who recorded the video or how it was obtained before appearing on social media. Pattern of 'Human Safari' Attacks Kherson, situated close to the front line, has repeatedly been hit by drone strikes targeting civilians since Ukrainian forces retook the city in 2022. A United Nations report published in 2025 concluded that Russian forces had repeatedly killed and injured civilians in the region through drone attacks. It also criticised the online publication of strike footage, saying sharing videos of civilians being killed or wounded could amount to the war crime of outrages upon personal dignity. Pressure Mounts for Accountability The latest incident is likely to intensify international scrutiny of drone warfare in Ukraine, where inexpensive unmanned aircraft are increasingly being used not only against military targets but also in areas populated by civilians. For residents of frontline cities such as Kherson, the constant buzz of drones has become a daily reminder that danger can arrive without warning from the sky. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4n03xg981o this link below shows the actual attack Russian drone targets grocer in ‘human safari’ attack
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