How Russia's drone war in Ukraine terrorizes civilians _ Focus on Europe
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00:00This is the aftermath of a drone strike near Ukraine's front line.
00:07Bereslav residents say attacks like this have been relentless for months, terrorizing them
00:12from dawn to dusk.
00:16Drones buzzing all day long.
00:18We almost stopped noticing because it never ended.
00:23Yubov and Volodymyr Kindrat fled Bereslav after their home was attacked in February.
00:29They were moving coal briquettes on a cold winter's day when the drones arrived.
00:36We were just inside the barn and one guy, a neighbor, was still inside the garage when
00:40the first kamikaze drone struck.
00:43It hit a high-voltage line and then exploded.
00:46We immediately ran out because we were afraid something had happened to him, but he was
00:49alive.
00:51The next day, two more drones came.
00:53They smashed into the garage and hit the car inside.
00:59Since September 2023, Ukrainian authorities have reported that at least 16 civilians have
01:05been killed and more than 130 injured in drone strikes.
01:12Former residents say they felt like they were being hunted by drones.
01:17It's as if they were sitting there and playing a computer game.
01:20But in real life.
01:21On living targets.
01:26Drones have become a pivotal weapon in this war, for both sides.
01:31Many are amateur drones, typically used for racing or aerial photography that have been
01:36fitted with explosives.
01:39Equipped with a camera, these first-person view or FPV drones transmit a real-time image
01:46to the operators, giving them a clear picture of the target.
01:51FPV drones are often used to observe battlefields from above.
01:57But they can also be lethal.
02:02Dorchevella spent six months investigating why Russia's military is targeting Bereslov.
02:08We identified three Russian units operating drones in the area and found evidence that
02:13one of them is testing a new drone.
02:17Experts and officials harbor a terrible suspicion on why they are being targeted.
02:23It doesn't matter if it's a person in uniform, a soldier or a civilian.
02:27They're using Bereslov to train.
02:31There is no conclusive evidence for this suspicion.
02:35Countering such attacks is difficult.
02:37In a small village north of Bereslov, this Ukrainian squad is practicing shooting down
02:42drones with special electronic anti-drone guns.
02:46The squad aims to hit as many Russian drones as possible, but the Russian units keep modifying
02:51their devices and changing their tactics.
02:54The Russians show no sign of winding down their attacks.
02:58Dozens of clips on Telegram show Russian drone strikes on Bereslov, often on vehicles.
03:04Making a distinction between military vehicles and civilian cars does not seem to matter
03:09to some drone operators.
03:13In one post, a drone operator said, quote, there are no civilians here.
03:17All vehicles are being destroyed to hinder movement and deprive the enemy of mobility.
03:25Lawyers say this is clearly illegal under international law.
03:29He's not making any assessment as to how he's going to minimize civilian damage.
03:35And effectively, he's decided that any individual is a legitimate military target.
03:45So that comment, plus evidence of the drone being used in the way suggested, creates not
03:53just a plausible case, but a very strong case of war crimes.
04:00We could not travel to Bereslov ourselves.
04:03Due to the constant attacks, the Ukrainian authorities have closed all roads to the city.
04:09Most residents have fled, like the Kindrats.
04:11In their new home in a quiet village in the Cherkassy region, they're trying to build
04:16a new life.
04:17Here, we don't hear any bombs or shells or explosions.
04:21Nightingales sing at night.
04:22My God, it's like we're in paradise.
04:26Whether they can ever return to Bereslov is unclear.
04:29Since they left, drone attacks on civilians have only been increasing along the front
04:34line.