Ukraine has accused Russia of a war crime after footage emerged showing a drone chasing and firing at a street vendor in Kherson, in southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities said the incident happened today and was recorded in footage released by police. The video shows a drone following a man around the truck he used to sell his goods, before an explosion occurs. The man tries to take cover behind the vehicle, but the drone appears to strike him directly.
A Ukrainian post said the 52 year old vendor was killed, though other reports said he was wounded. Reuters said it verified the location using buildings and road layouts that matched satellite images and archival footage, though it could not independently confirm the exact date.
Officials condemn attack
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on Telegram that the attack was a barbaric Russian war crime and part of a deliberate campaign to intimidate civilians. He said the drone operator knew he was targeting a civilian, and called for international condemnation and a strong defense package for Ukraine.
Human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets described the victim as an unarmed street vendor and accused the Russian military of hunting civilians.
