In the frontline Ukrainian city of Kherson, the threat of Russian drones is a daily reality. Natalia Sergienko, a humanitarian worker, narrowly escaped drone attacks on two separate occasions in early September, with a basement providing crucial protection.
Kherson, situated on the banks of the Dnipro River, has become a critical frontline in the southern theater since Ukraine liberated it in the fall of 2022. The city is subjected to daily Russian artillery, drone, missile, and air-dropped bomb attacks launched from the opposite bank. Local officials report that approximately 20 people are killed or injured each day in Kherson. The city has also become a target for FPV drones used by Russian operators to attack civilians, a tactic the United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has identified as constituting crimes against humanity. Videos of these attacks are frequently shared on Russian military-aligned Telegram channels.
As diplomatic efforts, including recent visits by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aim to find a path toward peace, frontline cities like Kherson face the prospect of an extended conflict. The Kherson region is among the four that Russia claimed to annex in September 2022 through referenda widely dismissed as illegitimate.
'Deliberate Terror'
Almost 80% of Kherson's pre-war population has left the city, according to Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration. Data from local authorities indicates that at least 1,502 people, including 40 children, have been killed by Russian fire in the Kherson region since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Another 9,625 people have been injured, and at least 46,900 civilian infrastructure facilities, including over 44,500 homes, have been damaged or destroyed.
Tolokonnikov highlighted FPV drones as a pervasive threat, noting that residents receive no warning of these small craft crossing the river. Drones guided by fiber optic wires are particularly difficult to jam. He described them as a tool of "deliberate terror against civilians," with operators indiscriminately targeting individuals, taxis, buses, and ambulances. In August alone, authorities recorded 27,210 Russian drones targeting Kherson, with FPV drones responsible for 80% of civilian casualties that month, resulting in 30 deaths and 393 injuries. The city is currently facing approximately 6,500 drone attacks per week.
The intensity of Russian drone, artillery, and air-dropped bomb attacks on Kherson is increasing. In the first half of 2026, Russian jets dropped 117 aerial bombs on the region, compared to 100 bombs dropped over the 31 days of August. Compounding the constant attacks, the city is experiencing a severe energy crisis. The heat and power plant was destroyed by Russian guided aerial bombs in August, leading to warnings from local officials about drastically reduced electricity supply. Authorities anticipate that 10% to 15% of the remaining residents may leave for the winter months, with potentially more departures if the situation worsens.
Hopes for Peace and Lingering Realities
Recent diplomatic efforts, including shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv by Witkoff and Kushner, have not yet yielded significant breakthroughs toward a peace deal. While officials on both sides described the visits as productive, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no indication of abandoning his war aims, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains unwilling to cede territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reiterated Russia's claim to the annexed regions as "undeniable and non-negotiable."
The failure of previous agreements, such as the Minsk I and Minsk II accords, to prevent a full-scale invasion has led to fears among many in Ukraine that a ceasefire could result in a prolonged frozen conflict along the current front lines. Any cessation of hostilities would be welcomed in Kherson, but the threat from the eastern bank of the Dnipro River remains. Tolokonnikov stated that rebuilding efforts will leverage the experiences gained over the years of conflict.
Humanitarian worker Natalia Sergienko expressed concern that a ceasefire does not equate to peace, emphasizing Russia's history of violating agreements and the risks associated with accepting a pause without robust security guarantees. She voiced a hope that diplomatic visits would lead to a definitive end to the war, lamenting the ongoing loss of life and destruction.
Kherson's liberation in November 2022 marked a significant Ukrainian victory, but the subsequent years have brought exhaustion. Sergienko described Kherson as "the shield of southern Ukraine," protecting the path to Mykolaiv and Odesa, and stated that the suffering of its residents is the price of preventing the war's further spread.
Meanwhile, residents in Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region face shortages of food, medicine, water, gas, and electricity. Reports indicate rampant human rights abuses, forced mobilization, and pro-Moscow indoctrination in schools. Tolokonnikov stressed that even with a ceasefire, the issue of liberating Ukrainian territories on the east bank of the Dnipro River must be addressed. He acknowledged that full liberation might be a long-term aspiration but maintained that it is possible, drawing parallels to historical movements for independence.
