Ukraine’s Kherson Under Siege: “Civilian Hunt” Intensifies

Kherson Faces Escalating Drone Attacks Targeting Civilians

The Ukrainian city of Kherson is experiencing a dramatic escalation in Russian drone attacks, with civilians now explicitly targeted. Irish journalist Kalin Robertson, reporting from the front lines, described the situation as a “deliberate hunt for civilians” and a “testing ground for modern terror.” Robertson’s recent documentary highlights the extreme danger, noting that filming drones in the sky is extremely risky for journalists.

Robertson visited Kherson at the end of winter, finding the situation significantly worse than previous visits. “The drone attacks have doubled,” she reported. This increase has made the city nearly impossible to navigate safely. What began as one or two attacks a week in the summer of 2024 has surged dramatically. By the end of 2025, there were as many as 330 attacks in a single 24-hour period. Just days before Robertson’s report, the number of attacks spiked to nearly 700 drones in 24 hours, meaning an explosive drone flew overhead every two to three minutes.

“Civilians Aren’t Caught in the Crossfire. They Are the Target.”

Robertson emphasized a critical distinction: in Kherson, civilians are not accidental casualties. “They are the target for the Russians,” she stated. This is not a situation where one military is fighting another, but rather a deliberate effort by one side to destroy the city. Robertson first visited Kherson after its liberation in January 2023. At that time, the city was filled with hope, but Russian forces have since returned, aiming to destroy that sense of a better future.

Antonyfka: A Glimpse of Kherson’s Potential Future

The Russian strategy appears to be shifting from attempting to capture territory to systematically destroying the city. This strategy was first implemented in Antonyfka, a district east of Kherson. This area was targeted after the destruction of the Antonyfka bridge, with Russian forces aiming to surround the remaining parts of the city. Robertson described Antonyfka as a place transformed into silence, a stark contrast to its former life with bustling markets and people going about their daily lives.

Accessing Antonyfka was extremely dangerous, with soldiers warning that no rescue or aid would be available once a certain line was crossed. Robertson described seeing overturned cars and trails of blood in the snow. She noted that if someone was injured, they would have to find their own way back to safety, as no assistance would be provided. This district’s devastation, Robertson warned, serves as a “blueprint for the rest of Kherson” if the current tactics are allowed to continue.

The Volatile Front Line on the Dnipro River

Kherson’s unique geography, situated on the Dnipro River, creates a volatile front line. Russian forces occupy one side of the river, while Ukrainian forces and civilians are on the other. This proximity means that Russian forces can easily observe Ukrainian positions. Journalists are warned not to point cameras near the river, as it could be mistaken for a sniper scope and draw immediate fire.

The constant drone activity poses a severe threat. Drones flying overhead are a daily occurrence, and soldiers have warned that filming them is incredibly dangerous. The Russian military uses these drones to spot movement, and then directs artillery fire accordingly. Robertson recounted an incident where soldiers shot down a drone just meters away from her, highlighting the extreme danger faced by both civilians and military personnel.

Historical Parallels and the Fight Against Fascism

Robertson drew parallels between the current situation in Ukraine and historical conflicts. She compared the bombing of London during the Blitz to the drone attacks in Kherson, noting that the tactics are similar, with civilians being targeted. She argued that Europe has a historical understanding of how to stop fascism, stating, “Fascism doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t slow down. It is stopped at the gates.”

She also addressed the debate surrounding Ukraine’s ability to strike deep within Russia. Robertson argued that targeting Russia’s oil refineries and other infrastructure funding the war effort is a legitimate act of self-defense. She contrasted this with Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, calling Ukraine’s strikes on military targets a necessary measure to cripple the war machine financially. She noted that Ukraine is increasingly producing its own weapons and drones to saturate Russian air defense systems, which are struggling to cope due to their cost and Russia’s limited ability to replace them.

A Lost Paradise and a Fight for the Future

Robertson also spoke about the loss of Kherson’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Before the Russian invasion, Kherson was a popular tourist destination known for its fertile lands, beaches, and historical sites. She described the vibrant markets, the delicious fruit grown in the region, and the healing mud lakes. Now, the city is associated with funerals, with plastic flowers often replacing fresh ones.

The journalist expressed a deep sense of nostalgia for a place she never visited before the conflict, having seen hundreds of hours of footage depicting its former beauty. She emphasized that what Russia is doing is not just destroying a city, but stealing heritage, culture, and the very land that sustained it. She concluded by stressing that the fight in Kherson is not just about defending territory, but about preventing a broader spread of what she described as Russian fascism and preserving the possibility of a peaceful future for generations to come.

Source: 😱Irish journalist couldn’t hold back! Here’s what Russians are doing. Kremlin stays silent about it (YouTube)