A Ukrainian vegetable vendor was injured after a drone allegedly pursued him around his market stall before exploding beside his van in the southern city of Kherson on Tuesday (August 4), according to Ukrainian authorities.
Kherson's regional military administration and national police released video of the incident involving the 52-year-old vendor, identified only as Yurii. The footage appears to show a first-person-view (FPV) drone following him around a van being used as a market stand before detonating nearby.
Reuters verified the location by matching buildings, road layouts, and surrounding vegetation with satellite and archive imagery. However, the news agency could not independently confirm the date the video was recorded.
Police said Yurii survived the blast but suffered shock and shrapnel wounds to his legs and back. In an interview from a hospital, he said there was nowhere to hide in the open marketplace and described the ordeal as terrifying. Reuters could not independently verify when or where the interview was filmed, although the man matched the individual seen in the verified footage.
Ukraine accused Russia of committing a war crime over the attack. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the incident was part of what he described as a deliberate campaign to terrorize civilians and called for international condemnation.
Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians during the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News
