UN Inquiry Accuses Russia of Drone Attacks on Civilians, Citing 'Crime Against Humanity'

UN Commission Details Systematic Drone Attacks

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has presented a new report to the UN General Assembly, accusing Russian forces of systematically employing drones to target and displace civilians in Ukraine. The inquiry, released on October 27, 2025, found that these actions amount to the crime against humanity of 'forcible transfer of population'.

The commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022, detailed how Russian forces have used drones to 'chase civilians from their homes' near the front lines, following them with cameras and attacking them as they sought shelter. This systematic targeting has occurred over more than a year, spanning a 300-kilometer stretch of Ukrainian-held territory across the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv regions.

Evidence and Scope of Allegations

The findings are based on extensive evidence, including interviews with 226 individuals, such as victims, witnesses, aid workers, and local authorities, alongside hundreds of verified online videos. Survivors interviewed by UN investigators reported feeling 'hunted' by the drones.

The report highlights that Russian armed forces have directed drone attacks against a wide array of civilian targets, including:

• Individuals
• Houses and buildings
• Humanitarian distribution points
• Critical energy infrastructure
• First responders, such as ambulance crews and firefighters, despite clear markings on their vehicles.

These attacks are described as 'systematically coordinated actions' and 'part of a coordinated policy to drive out civilians' from these territories.

Classification as Crimes Against Humanity

This latest report extends previous conclusions made by the commission. In May 2025, the inquiry had already determined that Russia's drone attacks targeting civilians along a 100-kilometer stretch on the right bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region constituted 'murder as a crime against humanity'. The current report broadens the scope of these findings, asserting that the continuous drone attacks forcing people to flee also constitute the crime against humanity of 'forcible transfer of population'.

The commission also noted that Russia has committed 'war crimes of intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, and of inflicting inhuman treatment, as well as corresponding human rights violations'. Russia has consistently denied intentionally targeting civilians and has refused to cooperate with the UN commission.