Russians set drone ambushes for civilians in Ukraine's Kharkiv region – Ukrainian military
Russians have turned FPV drones into a weapon of terror (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Russian forces continue systematic drone terror against civilians in the Kharkiv region, attacking them with drones and setting up drone ambushes targeting those who come to help the wounded, the press service of the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces reports.
According to the brigade, on December 11, 2025, on the road between Novoplatonivka and Borova in the Kharkiv region, a Russian FPV drone deliberately attacked a civilian who was traveling on a motorcycle. There were no military targets nearby.
But then the Russian troops set up a drone ambush: they placed a so-called waiter drone in standby mode near the site of the attack to strike those who would come to help the wounded civilian.
"This is not combat. This is a deliberate trap aimed at killing civilians and those who try to save them. Such actions are directly prohibited by international humanitarian law and violate all basic principles of warfare," the statement said.
Operators of the 77th Brigade's drones witnessed the attack and quickly destroyed the Russian waiter with a precise drop. This prevented a repeat attack by the Russians against civilians.
According to the military, this is the fifth such attack in the brigade's area of responsibility. Russians carry out the attacks from the 2nd Motor Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army of the Russian forces.
"The Russians control the road with drones and deliberately strike along the route used by residents for evacuation… Each episode is yet another confirmation that Russia continues a war not only against defenders but also against civilians who are simply trying to survive," the statement said.
Russians carry out such attacks against civilians in all frontline regions. On the morning of December 8, Russian forces attacked Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region with a drone. A family of two children who were riding bicycles to get water was injured.
Before that, they dropped a FAB-250 aerial bomb with a Unified Gliding and Correction Module (UMPK) on a residential area of the city. Five people were killed in the attack — two women and three men.
