Russia’s Drone Warfare: How Civilian Targets Are Hunted

Saporizhzhia, a southeastern Ukrainian city once home to over 700,000 people, lies along the Dnipro River. The Russian military advanced towards it quickly after their full-scale invasion in February 2022 but soon stalled just outside the city.

Despite the unchanged front lines for over four years, the terror inflicted on Saporizhzhia’s civilians has intensified in recent weeks.

Drones: The New Face of Terror

“Now these FPV drones have appeared, hitting their targets with precision and intention,” says Inna Krasnych, 53, who was in the city for a therapy session. While her neighborhood has been spared so far, the southern districts are not so lucky, facing daily drone activities.

FPV, or First Person View drones, are inexpensive and small, controlled directly by a pilot who sees through the drone’s camera. The Ukrainian authorities believe these drones are being used by Russian pilots to deliberately target civilians. Recent weeks have seen a horrifying increase in attacks on public spaces such as bus stops, taxis, and kiosks, leaving behind destruction and death.

Escalating Drone Strikes

The pattern seen in Saporizhzhia mirrors the long-term drone terror experienced in Kherson, further south, where pedestrians and cyclists have been frequent targets. The cynical term “human safari” has been coined in Ukraine to describe these ruthless hunts.

Aerial Defense Efforts

“Could Saporizhzhia face the same fate as much smaller Kherson? It’s possible, and we’re trying to prevent it,” says Andrij, 34, commander of an anti-drone unit tasked with protecting a segment of the sky over Saporizhzhia within a ten-kilometer radius.

At their bunker on the outskirts, Andrij watches a monitor displaying a red arrow—signifying an approaching enemy drone. While Kherson, being close to Russian positions due to the Dnipro River acting as a front, is easily reachable by drones, the distance to Saporizhzhia from the front lines is generally beyond the battery range of small drones. However, the Russian forces have adapted by using larger Molnja drones as “mother drones” to carry and enhance the control signals for smaller FPV drones, thus extending their operational range into Saporizhzhia.

Technological Adaptation and Response

Andrij points out that his unit uses newly developed intercept drones against long-range “Shahed” drones, known in Russian as “Geran,” and their own FPV drones to combat enemy FPVs. For the drone that approached while we spoke, a jammer was enough to disable its control signals, averting immediate danger.

Resilience Amidst Chaos

Back in the city center, Inna Krasnych finishes her therapy session, where a group of women meets regularly to relieve stress without delving into individual traumas. Today, they made candles. “The wax smells so good, and they added a nice-smelling oil too,” she shares.

By evening, as drone attacks usually intensify, Inna plans to light one of her homemade candles, hoping for a moment of peace amidst the nightly resurgence of drone threats.