Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 22, 2025 International law
Russian armed forces attacked civilians and civilian infrastructure using short-range unmanned aerial vehicles in populated areas located within a 300-kilometer zone along the right bank of the Dnieper. This was stated by experts from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine in their latest report to the Human Rights Council.
In May of this year, the Commission concluded that the drone attacks recorded in the Kherson region were large-scale and systematic and thus "qualify as crimes against humanity, amounting to murder," according to the Commission's press release. Available evidence confirms that similar strikes were carried out against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions.
The circumstances of the attacks in the three aforementioned areas indicate they were carried out with the intent to "kill, maim, and destroy," the Commission's experts stated. "Russian armed forces are conducting these attacks from positions located on the left bank of the Dnieper River, using drones equipped with surveillance and real-time target tracking systems. These drones often pursued their victims over long distances and dropped explosive devices on them, resulting in deaths and injuries," according to a press release published today. Furthermore, ambulances and other emergency service facilities were also targeted, preventing them from reaching their destinations.
The attacks have had a profound impact on the civilian populations of the affected areas. They have caused widespread destruction and rendered entire villages uninhabitable. Essential services have ceased functioning, and shops have closed. "The terror instilled in the population is forcing thousands to flee their homes," the Commission reports. A resident of the village of Antonovka, who fled after numerous attacks, told the experts: "Buses stopped running, shops closed, and drones were everywhere—if previously there were a few drones a day, by then there were three, four, five in the air every hour. It became impossible to go outside."
"Russian Telegram channels, either operated by the perpetrators of the attacks or by individuals associated with Russian drone units, have disseminated hundreds of videos depicting dead or wounded civilians, which amounts to a war crime—an affront to human dignity. These channels also published threatening posts, announcing further attacks and calling on the population to leave," the press release states.
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According to the Commission, "the actions of the Russian armed forces may amount to a crime against humanity in the form of forced displacement of population." The Commission intends to return to this issue in its report to the General Assembly in October of this year.
However, the Commission was unable to complete its investigation into allegations by Russian authorities regarding drone attacks by Ukrainian armed forces due to a lack of access to the relevant territories, risks to the safety of witnesses, and the Russian Federation's failure to respond to the Commission's inquiries.
In addition, the Commission continues to investigate the practice of deportations and transfers of adult civilians from areas of the Zaporizhzhia region under Russian control.
Investigations into short-range drone attacks, as well as deportations and displacements, point to "coordinated and targeted actions by Russian authorities to further seize territory" and strengthen their position in areas of Ukraine under their control, forcing the local population to flee.
"The violations and crimes recorded have caused untold suffering and extreme hardship to the victims," said Commission Chair Eric Mese. Repeated attacks have gradually destroyed entire communities. Many of the victims have lost loved ones, their homes destroyed, and their living conditions uninhabitable. They describe themselves as "losing everything." Elderly people, many of whom are unable to flee, remain particularly vulnerable on the front lines.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine is an independent body mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. The Commission consists of Eric Mese (Chair), Pablo de Greiff, and Vrinda Grover. The experts were appointed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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