Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately targeting unarmed rescue workers with drones
Photo: The State Emergency Service called it a display of inhumanity (Getty Images)
Russia is deliberately directing drones at Ukrainian rescue workers, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES).
Russian military Telegram channels have published a video showing a drone strike on an SES vehicle in Kherson. In the post, Russian forces describe rescuers as a "target if they interfere with combat missions." They also claim the vehicle was disabled, no personnel were injured, and the "objective was achieved."
Photo: Screenshot from Russian Telegram channels showing the drone strike and accompanying post (t.me/dsns_telegram)
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine responded:
"Russia... deliberately directs drones at rescue workers. Those who are unarmed, not involved in combat, and work to save lives after Russian attacks. This is not just terror — this is demonstrative inhumanity. To target those who pull people from under the rubble means to wage war against life itself," the agency said in a statement.
Russian attacks on rescue workers
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian emergency responders.
On June 3, a Russian attack hit rescuers in the Zaporizhzhia region as they were extinguishing a fire.
On June 18, Russian troops dropped explosives from a drone on a fire station in Bilozerka, Kherson region. Three SES personnel were wounded and later hospitalized.
