Drone-Delivered Mines Threaten Civilians in Kherson

Since Russian troops withdrew across the Dnipro River in November 2022, they have used FPV drones to scatter two types of concealed landmines—cloth-wrapped “rag” mines and plastic “gingerbread” mines size of an ice-hockey puck—across Kherson. The devices are dropped from altitude, detonating near civilians; a drone exploded outside a reporter’s interview.

iNews

Kherson’s population of 280,000 has fallen to under 70,000. UN mission recorded 26 civilian deaths and 201 injuries in April, the highest monthly toll among Ukrainian cities. Aid workers estimate at least a dozen mine-related casualties in the past six weeks. Gingerbread mines contain ~30 g of plastic explosive; detectors cost about £350 each.

iNews

Community worker Natalia Sergienko says each outing carries death risk; an elderly resident’s dog died after biting a gingerbread mine, and a woman was killed on a football field. A recent drone strike seeded the long-distance bus station with mines. Sergienko uses a handheld detector that alerts to nearby FPV drones, requiring updates.

iNews

The UN mission’s April data underscore the civilian toll. Kherson City Military Administration head Yaroslav Shanko says rag-wrapped devices are meant to appear innocuous or entice handling. Ukrainian police use drone detectors, but the £350 price limits civilian access. A western security official warned that Russia’s willingness to target civilians suggests similar tactics could appear in any NATO conflict.

iNews

Kherson residents describe the drone campaign as a terror strategy aimed at civilians. Sergienko calls the pilots “immoral” and “cowards” who fight civilians rather than armies. Observers warn the tactic erodes the combatant-noncombatant distinction, raising concerns for future European conflicts.

iNews

Exact numbers of casualties caused solely by disguised mines remain unclear; estimates rely on anecdotal reports. The total quantity of deployed rag and gingerbread mines has not been independently verified.

iNews

• “The mining happens almost every second day but the danger is constant.” — Natalia Sergienko, community worker

iNews

• “It looks like an object wrapped in a rag.” — Yaroslav Shanko, head of Kherson City Military Administration

iNews

• “There is abundant evidence from Ukraine that Russia has no compunction about targeting civilian infrastructure and civilians themselves to achieve its war aims. There is no reason to think they would not adopt similar tactics in a conflict with Nato.” — unnamed western security official

iNews

• “They are immoral. They are cowards who do not fight against armies; they fight against civilians. Their strategy is basically to make Ukrainians extinct. We won’t let them succeed.” — Natalia Sergienko

iNews

Ukrainian authorities must procure affordable, regularly updated drone detectors as Russian operators increasingly use fiber-optic control links that evade jamming. Ongoing monitoring of mine deployments is essential to reduce civilian risk.

iNews