Russian Drones Harass Civilians in Donetsk and Kherson, BBC Says

In eastern Ukraine, BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen described traveling on a dark, cold night in Donetsk along roads protected by nets that “catch the rotors of attacking drones,” a barrier he said stretches for kilometers and is suspended from wooden posts about 6 meters tall.

“Bowen: Why Ukraine Remains Provocative and Does Not Feel Close to Defeat - Author, Jeremy Bowen - Role, International Editor - Reporting from Kyiv - Published - Reading time: 22 min On a dark, cold night in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, nets protecting the road from the drone-explosive attacks shimmered and rippled in the headlights of our armored Toyota Land Cruiser as we threaded strange surreal tunnels to enter and exit the most intense fighting zone in eastern Ukraine”

BBC

Bowen reported that the firing zone now extends about 20 km on either side of forward positions, and that rear positions for logistics and treating the wounded are now as deadly as the old front line.

BBC

In Kherson, Sud Ouest reported that the city’s port lies less than three kilometers from Russian positions and that a 122 mm artillery shell exploded near Liberty Square as drones saturate the sky.

Sud Ouest said Kherson has become a hunting ground for a “human safari,” with hundreds of Russian FPV drones loaded with explosives flying over the city and diving to the ground as soon as a target is spotted.

The same Sud Ouest account put the scale of civilian harm in 2025 at “at least 200 civilians have been killed so far in 2025, according to the United Nations.”

France 24’s Observers report said Russian drones “harass civilians” and quoted its observer Alla from Kherson telling viewers: “Everyone has already heard the sound of a drone.”

France 24 added that Alla said, “When they hear the sound of a drone, children of all ages point to the sky and say 'Drone! Drone!'” as residents rely on hearing because “No one will warn you in case of an attack.”

CNN

In Kherson, RFI quoted Oleksander Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson regional administration, explaining, “We use different nets to stop drones,” including nets with holes of various sizes to stop drones and the explosive charges they drop.

RFI also quoted Tolokonnikov describing additional defenses, saying, “we have drone-jamming systems, and finally mobile units that can shoot at them and shoot them down.”

France 24 said the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) recorded “at least 577 civilians were killed by short-range drones in Ukraine in 2025,” and that “more than 3,000 were injured.”

“Ukraine: How Russian drones harass civilians To view this YouTube content, you must enable audience measurement and advertising cookies”

France 24

France 24 further reported that the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine estimated that “the short-range drone attacks by the Russian armed forces constitute a crime against humanity… as well as war crimes.”

In the Kharkiv region, France 24 described a January 27, 2026 attack in which three Shahed-type drones targeted a passenger train, and it quoted conductor Anatoliy Tymotsko saying, “Unfortunately, it struck the 16th car.”

France 24 said local prosecutors’ office reported “six people were killed in this attack,” while also noting HRMMU recorded “684 civilians killed in 2025 in Ukrainian-government-controlled territory by long-range weapons.”

Across the front, CNN reported that on eastern Ukraine’s “Road of Life,” nets hang overhead for protection as drones circle constantly above troops and supplies move under unmanned warfare.