What are the preferred targets of Russian drones in Ukraine?

When the troops of Russia They withdrew from the city of Kherson, Ukraine tens of thousands of its inhabitants went out to party in the central square .

As part of its military invasion that began on February 24, By 2022, Kremlin-led forces had taken control of the region between March and November of the same year. .

However, the pressure exerted by Ukrainian troops brought his soldiers to see each other forced to withdraw .

Even though local authorities managed to reclaim the area, Currently, more than two years after the invasion began, going outside poses risks for citizens. .

Today, the central square seems practically abandoned and Residents have paid particular attention to times when they need to mobilize .

According to figures collected by the Wall Street Journal , less than a quarter of the pre-war 280,000 people remain .

The fears of the population of Kherson, Ukraine, are due to attacks with drones perpetrated by Russian forces against civilians .

It is stated that The area where the risks are most imminent is near the Dnipro River. located next to the city.

It’s because The Kremlin troops are on the other side .

However, as they are located less than two kilometers from the river, They can hit targets across a large part of the city with their drones .

Since Ukraine took over Kherson, They also carried out attacks with artillery, missiles and glide bombs. .

Regional government data ensures that, Since the beginning of July, more than 7,000 drone attacks have been recorded in Kherson .

They report that Nearly 600 civilians were injured and 50 died as a result of the operations troops commanded by Moscow.

Ukrainian officials told the American newspaper that I don’t know why Russian forces have intensified their attacks on civilians .

The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. who sent the Newspaper.

Faced with accusations that they attacked civilians throughout the war in Ukraine, The Kremlin has repeatedly insisted its objectives are military .

An employee of a grocery store in Kherson, 38-year-old Olha Chernishova, told the above-mentioned media a series of situations in which he was targeted by drones .

He remembered it The first time was when he had just arrived home. after going out to do some shopping.

While carrying the bags, He heard a buzzing sound approaching his position. so he ran towards the door.

Before you can enter, The drone dropped a grenade which hit his car .

The explosion of the device, Chernishova said, led to his body being covered in broken glass .

Although his injuries were minor, It didn’t take long for him to face a similar episode again. .

A few weeks later, She was once again chased by a drone, a situation that led her to remain hidden under a tree while the device circled. in the circles above.

He said another such episode occurred at the end of October, when He saw from the window of his house how a drone dropped a grenade on a parked car in the surrounding area.

“NOW I try to stay at home as much as I can,” Chernishova said.

Several videos examined by the Newspaper suggest an apparent intention of Russian drones to pursue and attack individual civilians .

In certain areas of the city, You may see signs warning of risks to stay outside.

One of these messages says: “If you hear a drone, run for cover immediately” .

The situation in Kherson has led residents to avoid going out because, when they do, they prefer be in spaces where it is more difficult for drones to see them .

“I can’t handle the stress right now. “Everything worries me” » said Chernishova.

At the same time, he said he was currently choosing walk instead of using your car, because on foot it would be easier for you to hide if a drone approaches .

Deputy Director of the Kherson Emergency Service Volodimir Tsiktor emphasized to the Newspaper that “It has become more difficult for people to get around the city” .

He also said that “it is even difficult for our teams to reach” areas near the Dnipro River, because “the vehicle will be attacked immediately” .

In October, a group of five city emergency services officers were attacked by an FPV drone (first person view).

They were found repair damage left by an artillery attack on a roof when the device approached.

One of these workers, Henady Skripchenko, 41, told the aforementioned media: The drone “was only a few meters away”, so they had no time to react before he crashed onto the roof.

The explosion caused one of them to fall from the ceiling. and that he would end up with spinal injuries.

For his part, Skripchenko was injured by three shrapnel in his legs after running away.

Elena Oleksevna, 56, an employee of a flower shop located on the central square of Kherson, said: the business has been seriously affected over the last few months.

“The city center was very busy (…) I see people moving away from the river, because of the drone threat” the woman said, before adding that she can now recognize the sounds of different types of ammunition.

Faced with this scenario, the Kherson regional government installed more than 100 anti-drone weapons in vans driving around the city so that they can respond to imminent dangers to citizens.

Despite this measure, those responsible encourage residents to leave the city and settle in free, more distant housing of the first line.

Information collected by the Newspaper they detail that These offer free food for those who are moving, while school is also offered in person. for students.

Kherson Regional Military Administration spokesman Oleksandr Tolokonnikov said: “We are trying to explain to people that we cannot guarantee their safety in these circumstances” .

However, he assured, many residents want to “stay at home” .