A Ukrainian civilian narrowly escaped death Tuesday morning when a Russian FPV kamikaze drone pursued him through a market in Kherson before detonating. The 52-year-old seller sustained blast injuries, shrapnel wounds, and concussion but is expected to recover.
The incident occurred as the market was being set up, with video footage showing the drone circling overhead and the man attempting to hide behind his van. The attack has been described by commentators as a deliberate campaign by Moscow to terrorize Ukraine's population.
Separately, overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine's Sumy region killed two children, ages 5 and 10, and an elderly woman, according to regional administration head Oleg Grygorov. The children were recovered from the rubble of their home.
In retaliation or concurrent action, Ukrainian forces struck a Wildberries warehouse in the Krasny Bor industrial zone outside Moscow. Preliminary reports from regional governor Andrey Vorobyov indicated that five people were killed and six others wounded in the strike. Another Wildberries facility in the Tver region was also damaged by drones, though no injuries were reported there.
Wildberries, a major e-commerce company in Russia, has been a target of Ukrainian strikes on more than a dozen sites since July 18. The company's CEO and founder has characterized these attacks as "acts of terrorism."
The National Police of Ukraine stated that the attack on the Kherson market demonstrates how Russians "deliberately target civilians." They added that the man targeted was not a combatant but a vendor, yet still considered a target by the aggressor state. Law enforcement is documenting the incident as a potential war crime. Police also advised citizens not to film drones but to prioritize seeking shelter. The van used by the vendor was significantly damaged in the blast.
