EDITOR'S CORNER: How Civilians Suffer at the Hands of Russians

In this blog post, I want to shed light on the immense suffering endured by Ukrainian civilians at the hands of the Russian army — both in the occupied territories and across Ukraine.

According to the Geneva Conventions, all warring nations are obligated to protect civilians and minimize harm to them during armed conflict. However, Russia has repeatedly violated these principles, showing blatant disregard for international law. Inflicting pain and fear on civilians has become a deliberate tactic — one aimed at spreading terror, breaking morale, and sowing chaos in hopes of weakening Ukraine’s resistance and forcing an end to the war on Moscow’s terms.

"HUMAN SAFARI" DRONE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS

In Kherson, which was liberated by Ukraine in 2022 after months of brutal Russian occupation, there have been reports that Russians deliberately hunt down and try to kill innocent civilians walking on the streets. Investigative reports and witness accounts show that this is a systematic and coordinated effort to strike fear in civilians and in Ukraine as a whole. The goal of these attacks is not only physical, to kill people, but also psychological. Videos of these drone strikes have circulated widely online, both in Russia and in the West, spreading even more fear among those living near the front lines.

It is easier for Russians to carry out these attacks with small FPV drones in cities like Kherson because they are more vulnerable and sparsely populated. Russian forces take advantage of the fact that most people who remain in these cities are either too old to leave or too poor to relocate. What should be a place of recovery has instead become a dangerous hunting ground, where simply walking outside can cost someone their life.

INDISCRIMINATE EXPLOSIVE WEAPON ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE

This year has been worse than any other year for Ukraine when it comes to Russian attacks with drones and bombs in cities such as Odessa, Kyiv and other major hubs away from the front lines. These attacks often target civilian infrastructure, including apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, and power stations. Explosions have torn through residential neighborhoods in the middle of the night, killing families in their sleep and leaving entire blocks in ruins. 

In many cases, there are no military targets anywhere nearby, showing that these are not accidental strikes but deliberate acts meant to terrorize civilians and disrupt daily life. The destruction of power plants and water systems has left millions without heat, electricity, or clean water, especially during freezing winter months, turning survival itself into a daily struggle.

The use of such indiscriminate weapons clearly violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting civilian areas. Yet Russia continues to launch missiles and drones deep into Ukrainian territory with little concern for who or what is hit. These constant attacks are designed not just to cause damage but to break the spirit of the population and exhaust Ukraine’s ability to function. For many Ukrainians, each night brings the same fear — the sound of sirens, the shaking of windows, and the hope that their home will still be standing by morning.

DELIBERATELY ATTACKING FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES

The situation on the front line remains dire for many Ukrainian defenders. When soldiers are wounded in battle, it can take hours—or sometimes even days—before they receive medical help, as evacuation under fire is extremely dangerous. In past wars, vehicles and personnel marked with the red cross were considered protected under the Geneva Conventions and generally spared from attack. However, in this war, those symbols no longer guarantee safety.

Russian forces have repeatedly and deliberately targeted medical facilities, ambulances, and medics with drones and artillery as soon as they are spotted. This makes the evacuation of the wounded almost impossible in many areas. In response, Ukraine has begun using remotely operated robots and drones to recover injured soldiers and retrieve the dead from the front lines, an innovation born out of necessity. Even far from the battlefield, hospitals and clinics are not safe. Russian missile and drone strikes have hit medical centers in major cities, including maternity wards and children’s hospitals—such as the attack on the Okhmatdyt children’s cancer hospital in Kyiv, which shocked the world. These strikes are not only war crimes under international law but also clear attempts to destroy the morale of both soldiers and civilians by attacking the very institutions meant to save lives.

THE FORCIBLE TRANSFERS AND DEPORTATION OF CIVILIANS IN OCCUPIED AREAS 

In the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, civilians have been subjected to forcible transfers and deportations on a large scale. Families are often pressured or forced to leave their homes and sent to areas under Russian control or even across the border into Russia. Belongings are confiscated, and people are moved without regard for their safety, health, or well-being. These actions are part of a broader, systematic effort to remove civilians from occupied regions and assert control over the population.

Children have been among the most vulnerable victims. Many are separated from their families, while others endure long, dangerous journeys alongside parents under harsh conditions with little access to food, water, or medical care. The trauma of being uprooted from their homes and communities can have lasting psychological effects, causing anxiety, fear, and a loss of stability. Schools are disrupted or closed, and opportunities for education and normal childhood activities are effectively denied.

The consequences of these forced relocations are severe for all civilians, but particularly for children. They face not only immediate physical dangers but also long-term impacts on their mental health, development, and future prospects. International investigators have described these actions as potential war crimes, emphasizing that forcibly moving civilians, especially children, violates the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a deliberate tactic to terrorize and destabilize Ukrainian society.

CONCLUSION

The deliberate targeting of civilians in Ukraine by Russia reflects a systematic effort to terrorize and demoralize the population. No place—from streets to hospitals—has been truly safe, and the suffering inflicted is both physical and psychological. Beyond the violence and destruction we have discussed, the coercive mobilization of Ukrainian men into the Russian army in occupied areas adds another layer of brutality to this conflict.

Children and other vulnerable populations have borne the heaviest burden, enduring displacement, disrupted education, constant fear, and even forced adoptions and attempts at Russification. These actions violate the Geneva Conventions and underscore the urgent need for accountability, highlighting the immense human cost of this ongoing conflict.