The city of Kherson was taken back from Russia in 2022. Now, things are still hard for the people who live there. They are facing a new danger: Russian drones. These flying machines are controlled by people far away. They make life scary for people in Kherson. Just walking outside can be dangerous. This article talks about what people in Kherson are going through because of these drones. It uses stories from people there and what experts say.
The Never-Ending Buzz: Living with Drones Watching
Oleksandr Sensky works for the Red Cross in Kherson. He says the buzzing sound in the sky means danger. He told a newspaper called The Independent how drone pilots try to find people. The streets have become like a dangerous game. One time, he was riding his bike when he heard the drone. He tried to hide, but a drone hit him and hurt his leg badly. This shows that the drones can hurt anyone.
Other stories say that Russian drone pilots use special drones to watch and attack people. These drones can stay in the air without being seen. Then, they can attack quickly. This has made the fighting in Kherson very personal and scary for the people living there. It’s hard to know that someone is always watching you from above. It makes people feel scared all the time.
“Like a Video Game”: How Drones Make War Less Human
Oleksandr said something that makes you think: “He was above me. I felt like he was playing a video game, dropping bombs on regular people.” This shows a worrying thing about drone war. The people controlling the drones are far away. This can make them forget that they are hurting real people. It makes you wonder if this way of fighting is right and how it affects the people controlling the weapons.
Trying to Survive: Being Strong When Drones Attack
Even though there’s danger all the time, the people of Kherson are strong. Because drones keep hitting things on the ground, important services have had to move underground. For example, Ukraine opened its first hospital that can protect people from bombs. It’s in the basement of another hospital. A doctor there, Petro Marenkovskyi, said they had to do this to keep mothers and babies safe because even hospitals are being attacked.
It’s very hard for the doctors and nurses. They are always stressed because of the bombing. Also, many people are not eating well and have been through bad things because of the war. This means more pregnant women have problems and need special help. But when a baby is born, it feels like a small victory. It shows that people are still hopeful.
The Strength of Old People and the Sadness for Children
Many old people in Kherson stayed in the city even when Russia was there. They are very strong. They stay in their homes and with their friends, even though there are attacks all the time.
There are also about 5,000 children in Kherson. It’s sad because they are growing up hearing explosions. The danger of drone attacks is just a normal part of their lives.
Non-Stop Attacks and Damage to Things
Iryna Voskova’s story shows how the attacks add up. She was already hurt by a bomb, and now she has metal in her head. She’s also seen the damage from drone attacks. She says drones hunt people, cars, and buses, so even going somewhere is dangerous. Roads and transportation in places like Antonivka are badly damaged, which makes it hard for people to get help.
Not Trusting Peace Talks, But Wanting Help
People like Irina don’t really believe that things will become peaceful soon because they don’t trust Russia. But they still hope the fighting will stop. They are also thankful for any help they get.
Is Kherson a Training Place for Terror? Claims of Purposefully Attacking People
The mayor of Kherson, Roman Mrochko, is worried that Russia is using Kherson as a place to train drone pilots. He says they send new pilots there to practice attacking people, cars, and buildings before they go to other places to fight. If this is true, it’s very bad because it means they are intentionally hurting regular people.
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A Little Bit of Hope in the Darkness
Even though there is a lot of fear and destruction, there are still stories of hope. Alina Stasiuk had a baby girl named Adelina in the underground hospital. This shows that people still want to live and be happy, even when things are terrible. Alina said, “It’s happiness… Giving birth is happiness, and it’s just a piece of happiness you hold in your arms.” Her words are a reminder that even in a war, good things can still happen.
Conclusion:
What’s happening in Kherson shows how modern war is changing and how drones can really hurt regular people. The stories from people there show a city that is being attacked from the sky. Everyday life is dangerous, and it takes a toll on people’s minds. The people of Kherson are strong, but the world needs to pay attention to their suffering and try to find a way to make them safe and bring peace. Understanding what life is like under drone attacks is important to help people and find a way to stop the fighting.