attack videos analysed by HRW
Valid as of: 3 June 2025 ↗Kherson, Ukraine
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Kherson
People in this frontline city face relentless attacks by Russian forces. Aid must reach civilians and the people protecting them.
01 / Relentless attacks
Kherson residents face relentless attacks.
Russia is trying to destroy everything that makes ordinary life possible in Kherson: it attacks residents, homes, public transport, ambulances, humanitarian vehicles and energy infrastructure. It uses small FPV drones, artillery and KAB guided aerial bombs. From the beginning of July to 27 August 2026, the regional administration recorded at least 170 attacks with these bombs.
Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty6 Aug 2026 ↗Source: Херсонська ОВА27 Aug 2026 ↗We go to the shop under fire. I don’t know what will happen next.Klavdia, Kherson resident, RFE/RL · 6 August 2026
attacks with KAB guided aerial bombs since early July
Valid as of: 27 August 2026 ↗small FPV-drone attacks in a single week
Valid as of: 27 August 2026 ↗02 / “Human safari”
Drone attacks on civilians are documented.
Residents use the term “human safari” for attacks in which drone operators track and strike individual people in the streets.
Human Rights Watch analysed 83 videos and interviewed dozens of victims and witnesses. Its investigation, published on 3 June 2025, found that Russian forces had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity through drone attacks against civilians, civilian property and infrastructure since June 2024.
Tochnyi Maps
Map of civilian casualties
Each point marks a documented casualty. Colours distinguish wounded people, people killed and targeted first responders; locations are approximate according to the map authors.
Source: Tochnyi Mapsinteractive archive ↗03 / Evacuation
Children wear body armour during evacuation.
Evacuation teams enter red zones in armoured vehicles. They monitor the route for drones while police, volunteers and mobile fire groups protect families. Missions may be delayed when attacks intensify.
Source: Суспільне ХерсонAug 2026 ↗24 children
were among 150 people evacuated in the first two weeks of August 2026, according to police cited by Suspilne Kherson.
04 / Energy emergency
The power plant was badly damaged. The city is preparing for prolonged outages.
Russian aerial bombs struck Kherson’s combined heat and power plant again overnight on 27 August 2026. The regional administration reported extremely serious damage.
Authorities are working on alternative heat and energy supplies, while warning that outages may last much longer than hours or days. Families with children and older people in particular were urged to consider moving to safer areas.
The Kherson regional administration issued its evacuation appeal on 27 August 2026.
Timeline
A city that refuses to disappear
Occupation
Russian forces seized the only regional capital they captured in the opening weeks of the full-scale invasion.
The Kyiv Independent ↗Liberation
Ukrainian troops liberated Kherson. The front settled along the Dnipro.
Le Monde ↗Kakhovka dam destroyed
Catastrophic flooding hit the city and dozens of settlements along the river.
The Kyiv Independent ↗Targeted drone attacks
HRW documents systematic attacks against civilians and civilian objects from this period.
Human Rights Watch ↗Investigation published
HRW publishes its extensive analysis of 83 videos and victim testimony.
Human Rights Watch ↗Plant hit, residents urged to leave
After serious damage to the power plant, officials warn of prolonged outages and offer evacuation support.
Херсонська ОВА ↗Testimony
Videos and testimony from Kherson.
Warning: graphic footage and violence
National Police of Ukraine · original footage · CC BY 4.0
A drone hunts a civilian at a market
Original police footage from 4 August 2026 shows an FPV drone circling a vehicle, pursuing a 52-year-old vendor and then exploding. The man survived with injuries and concussion.
CBC News · YouTube
Kherson residents are hunted by drones
A report with authentic attack footage and testimony from residents. It may show the moment of an attack and its aftermath.
The Kyiv Independent · YouTube
Four days in a city where drones hunt civilians
Reporting from Kherson combines verified attack footage with testimony from people living under the drones every day.
Suspilne Kherson · YouTube
Evacuating families from the red zone
A report from an evacuation mission in August 2026.
Our initiative · Operace Kyseláč · YouTube
Why aid goes directly to Kherson
A video from our initiative, Operace Kyseláč. We explain why we help in Kherson and support both civilians and the city’s defenders.
Human Rights Watch
Listen, Run, Hide
A multimedia investigation by Human Rights Watch into drone attacks on civilians. Explore the full testimony, videos and analysis on the HRW website.
05 / Map
The river separates the city from the occupied bank.
Kherson stands on the right bank of the Dnipro. Russian positions on the occupied left bank are close enough for repeated drone and artillery attacks. The map shows the city’s relationship to Mykolaiv, Odesa and the Black Sea coast.
Current excerptThe live interactive map loads directly from DeepStateMap.live. On every visit it therefore shows their currently published situation, not a stored screenshot.
Live map06 / Strategic importance
If Kherson fell
The following points are a conditional analytical scenario, not a prediction of immediate developments.
Pressure towards Mykolaiv and Odesa
Losing the right-bank defensive position would increase pressure on southern transport and logistics routes.
Black Sea routes at risk
Kherson Oblast is part of the wider area shaping Ukraine’s access to its coast and ports.
More displacement
Worsening security and access to essential services could force more residents from their homes.
Loss of the right-bank line
The right bank is an important natural defensive line that keeps Russian forces beyond the river.
≠
Source: The Kyiv Independent5 Aug 2025 ↗Source: Le Monde24 Jun 2026 ↗The Dnipro remains a major natural obstacle. The Kyiv Independent’s analysis of 5 August 2025 says a large Russian river crossing is unrealistic, not automatic. There is no “open road” inland.
07 / Operace Kyseláč
We take aid where it is needed now.
The Czech volunteer initiative Operace Kyseláč supports Kherson and other frontline areas. Purchases follow current needs and the safety of recipients.
We are staying.
We are among the last organisations still working in Kherson. Others have withdrawn because of the security situation. We are staying: we continue to support local hospitals, civilians and the city’s defenders. Your support helps us carry on.
Hospitals and maternity wards
Medical supplies, hygiene products and equipment that keeps healthcare facilities operating.
Civilians at direct risk
Material support for families, evacuees and communities in the most affected areas.
Vehicles and logistics
Aid transport, repairs and equipment needed for safer movement in the field.
Medical supplies
Consumables and specific equipment requested by healthcare workers on the ground.
Protective technology
Drone detectors, early warning systems, power sources, batteries and technical components.
For safety reasons we do not publish future travel dates, exact routes, unit identities, licence plates or tactical details.
Source: United Nations in Ukraine14 Aug 2026 ↗08 / Two ways to help
Choose who you will help.
Both fundraisers run on the verified Znesnáze21 platform. The current amount and status are always shown on the fundraiser page.01 · Civilian aid
Direct aid for Ukraine’s frontline areas
For hospitals, maternity wards, families, medical supplies, hygiene, energy, vehicles and logistics.
Help civiliansOpens in a new window02 · Protecting the city
Kherson drone operators protect their city
For detectors, early warning, power, communications, repairs and technical equipment.
Support protectionOpens in a new windowThis site does not copy changing totals or time remaining, so it cannot show outdated fundraising data.
Help your way
For Kherson. Directly, too.
You can also help Kherson by donating directly to Operace Kyseláč. Choose the method that works for you.
Want your gift to support Kherson? Write “Cherson” in the recipient message for bank transfers and PayPal.
Transparent bank account
Donate from a Czech or international bank account. Transactions are publicly visible.
Czech account number
2002142415/2010IBAN for international transfers
View account transactionsOpens in a new windowCZ51 2010 0000 0020 0214 2415PayPal
Donate through PayPal. Choose your own amount.
Donate with PayPalOpens in a new windowBitcoin
Donate BTC directly over the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin address
Open Bitcoin walletbc1qtt74yxrxj25er0gwgef7qseep6u6agy8yjpq6dDarujme.cz
A one-time or monthly gift supporting Operace Kyseláč’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Donate on Darujme.czOpens in a new window09 / Sources
Every claim has a traceable source.
Time-sensitive figures carry a date. Links lead to the original publication; reporting and maps may continue to change.01
Photo: National Police of Ukraine · CC BY 4.0 Херсонська ОВАPrimary source · 27 Aug 2026
Evacuation appeal after serious damage to Kherson’s power plant
↗Opens in a new window02Associated PressNews report · 28 Aug 2026
Consequences of the power-plant attack and the risk of prolonged outages
↗Opens in a new window03Human Rights WatchInvestigation · 3 Jun 2025
Listen, Run, Hide: investigation into drone attacks on civilians
↗Opens in a new window04Суспільне ХерсонField report · Aug 2026
Children evacuated from red zones in armoured vehicles
↗Opens in a new window05The Kyiv IndependentAnalysis · 5 Aug 2025
Humanitarian crisis and why a large Dnipro crossing remains unrealistic
↗Opens in a new window06Le MondeField report · 24 Jun 2026
Kherson residents living under the constant threat of Russian drones
↗Opens in a new window07Radio Free Europe / Radio LibertyField report · 6 Aug 2026
Kherson residents live under daily drone attacks
↗Opens in a new window08United Nations in UkrainePrimary source · 14 Aug 2026
Statement following attacks on humanitarian workers in Kherson
↗Opens in a new window09Tochnyi MapsInteractive map · interactive archive
The Human Safari: interactive map of attacks on civilians in Kherson
↗Opens in a new window10DeepStateMap.liveMap · live map