Video shows Russian drone chasing Ukrainian street vendor in 'human safari' attack

Drone appears to chase Ukrainian man and detonate near him Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared a video on social media of a drone hunting down a man in southern Ukraine, saying it showed an instance of a Russian "safari" attack against civilians. The video shows the drone pursuing a street vendor on a city street in the Kherson region. The man tries to move away from the drone hovering above him, cowering behind a white van as he is being pursued. Eventually, the drone dunks on him before exploding on impact and injuring him. Sometimes called "human safari", the deployment of remotely-operated drones against civilians has often been used by Russians to terrify residents of front line areas in Ukraine. "The world must see this," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. "It must see every piece of evidence that Russia has gone mad, and every fact that Russian soldiers are enjoying killings and tormenting people." The video showed a "barbaric war crime", said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

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Scoop News DeskRussian · Published Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM UTCUpdated Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 4:50 PM UTC

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The videos filmed by the drones before they explode on to their targets are often posted online, allowing thousands to witness the last moments of the terrified victims. "Posting videos of civilians being killed and injured amounts to the war crime of outrages upon personal dignity," the UN said. A 2025 UN report said it had found Russian armed forces "recurrently killed and injured civilians" in the area by using drones to target them. Additional reporting by Richard Irvine-Brown, BBC Verify Russian drones hunt civilians, evidence suggests Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Video shows Russian drone chasing Ukrainian street vendor in 'human safari' attack More than 170 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel Afghan boxer arrested in connection with death of Scottish woman in Greece Zinc dresses and ice creams - how to survive a heatwave wedding I left my wife and twins behind - why this Nigerian man fled South Africa Breast cancer checks missing most women under 50 who are at risk, says study There's a reason child vaccination rates are falling - and it's not social media Ariana Grande has had enough of body comments, but 'scrutiny' will linger After three traumatic years at uni, I fear I won't get my dream nursing job Woman has pioneering womb surgery to fix 'miracle' baby with intestines outside its body 'I brought up my family in a London graveyard' Get news, tips and ideas for your family with our Summer Essential newsletter Follow police investigations from the 999 call to conviction The return of the thrilling, award-winning drama about the CIA Tommy and John Fury debate what makes a home Surgeon struck off after wrongly connecting organs Bono, Eddie Vedder and Hozier among mourners at Glen Hansard's funeral Ed Sheeran fined for failing to insure Aston Martin Oil prices fa…

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