Russia’s disturbing human ‘safaris’
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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First-person view (radio control)
15 min read
The article extensively discusses FPV drones as the primary weapon in these attacks. Understanding the technical basis of first-person view radio control—how pilots see through the drone's camera in real-time—explains why these weapons are so effective for precise targeting and why operators can deliberately hunt individual civilians.
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Battle of Kherson
10 min read
The article centers on the Kherson region where these drone attacks occur. Understanding the battle's history—the Russian occupation, Ukrainian liberation, and why Russians remain just across the Dnipro River—provides essential context for why civilians in this specific area face such persistent danger.
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Loitering munition
1 min read
The article describes drones that 'land somewhere in the bushes, detect a person, and suddenly take off'—classic loitering munition behavior. This Wikipedia article explains the broader category of weapons that can wait for targets, providing technical context for how these 'human safaris' are technologically possible.
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By: Cindy
DISCLAIMER: This story includes descriptions and images which may be disturbing for some readers.
Yana had a promising job at a hospital in the Kherson region, but at some point, her commute to work became marked by traffic jams.
The sides of the road leading to her hospital had started to become littered with burned-out cars that no one had cleared away.
The same went for the bodies that had charred inside them.
“You couldn’t pull them out, they were fused,” she said.
The term ‘human safari’ originates from the Kherson region. The city of Kherson is separated from the Russians only by the Dnipro River, making it prone to short range drone attacks. Dozens of civilians still suffer each day from this bloody game invented by the Russians to entertain themselves on the battlefield.
First Person View (FPV) drones have changed not only the Russian-Ukrainian war but also warfare practices around the world. Now, a $400 drone can effectively strike military equipment that costs millions. They’re highly convenient for precise attacks: they’re small, fast, and easy to control.
Countries with high crime rates and authoritarian regimes are already studying FPV-drones’ capabilities. FPV drones were recently used by drug traffickers in the clashes between authorities and drug cartels in Brazil.
Yana and her family lived in the village of Shyroka Balka, just 10 kilometers from Russian positions, up until a few months ago.
They left because they did not want to be targets anymore.
Yana, 31, had lived there since childhood. The area is known for its vast steppes and, before the invasion, a wide river, numerous farms, and the sweetest watermelons.
In summertime, people flocked to the countryside from nearby cities to spend holidays, swim, and go to dance clubs. Just before the invasion, Yana was
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