Ukraine accused Russia of committing a war crime following a drone attack on a vegetable seller in Kherson, southern Ukraine, on August 4, 2026 [1, 2]. A video showed a Russian drone chasing a 52-year-old man named Yurii around his roadside vegetable stall before exploding as he took cover behind a van [1, 2].
Yurii, who survived the attack, sustained shock and shrapnel injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. Video interviews with him from a hospital ward were released to media [1, 2]. In one account, Yurii described how the drone targeted him as he and his wife arranged crates of vegetables outside their van. "It could see that I had tomatoes out, some cucumbers and eggplants laid out on the floor. It even ducked under the umbrella when I was running away round the other side," he said [2].
Attempting to signal the drone operator, Yurii held garlic toward the camera, showing he was not filming and did not pose a threat [2]. Despite that, the drone pursued him relentlessly before detonating near the van [1, 2].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack in a statement, calling it evidence of Russia's targeting of civilians. "Today, many were shocked by yet another video of the drone 'safari' Russians are carrying out against civilians in Kherson. Russia has gone mad. The world must see this," Zelenskyy said [2]. He urged increased international pressure on Moscow to curb its aggression and prevent further civilian suffering [2].
These drone strikes have been described as "safari" attacks, where Russian drones actively hunt civilians in the Kherson region [2]. Ukraine released video footage and Yurii's hospital interview publicly on August 5 as part of their war crime accusation against Russia [1, 2].
Ukraine continues to highlight incidents involving such drone attacks as it seeks global condemnation and support. Yurii is currently recovering from his injuries, with no new related attacks reported as of August 13.
