On August 4, a Russian drone pursued a 52-year-old street vendor named Yuriy through the streets of Kherson, Ukraine, before detonating close to him and causing serious injuries.
Video footage captured the drone following Yuriy as he set up his vegetable stall near a white van. Despite his attempt to show he was harmless by holding up two heads of garlic to the drone’s camera, the drone swooped down and exploded near him.
Yuriy was rushed to hospital with multiple shrapnel wounds, a concussion, and trauma. His van was also damaged in the blast.
President Zelenskyy Condemns the Attack
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the incident on his X account, describing it as part of a deliberate Russian pattern of targeting civilians with drone attacks he termed "safaris." He highlighted that Russian forces openly admit and boast about these assaults.
Zelenskyy urged international partners—including Finland, Kazakhstan, the Baltic states, Poland, the South Caucasus countries, Romania, and Moldova—to collaborate in providing security guarantees and ending Russia's aggression.
He emphasized that the threat extends beyond Ukraine, warning that the world must respond decisively to prevent further spread of such violence.
Incident Details
- The attack occurred near a market area where Yuriy sold tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and garlic.
- Yuriy’s wife fled when the drone appeared, but the drone focused on him.
- Despite signaling he was a civilian trader, the drone detonated near him, causing injuries.
This event adds to the growing list of civilian-targeted attacks amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
