The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has formally identified ten Russian servicemen involved in a systematic, highly coordinated campaign of drone terror targeting civilians in the frontline city of Kherson. According to the official SBU report, these individuals operate under the 404th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, part of the ‘Dnepr’ grouping. Rather than targeting military assets, this unit has weaponized FPV and strike drones to hunt local residents in real-time, executing what can only be described as a technological manhunt.
The suspects include drone pilots Tsolak Grigoryan (‘Boroda’), Nikita Gubar (‘Drovosek’), Nikolay Denisenko (‘Gami’), Vladimir Klimov (‘Klim’), Vyacheslav Kornenkov (‘Skif’), Viktor Nizhnikov (‘Flyaga’), Ruslan Nugayev (‘Dok’), Vladimir Orlov (‘Yakut’), Ivan Prusachenko (‘Prus’), and Oleg Pukhlyakov (‘Pulya’). Utilizing high-resolution cameras on commercial and military-grade UAVs, these operators monitored the streets of Kherson, deliberately identifying non-combatants—pedestrians, cyclists, and civilian vehicles—before dropping fragmentation and high-explosive munitions on them.
Analytical assessments of these strikes reveal a disturbing pattern of ‘double-tap’ tactics. Russian operators deliberately targeted first responders, including the State Emergency Service (SES) personnel and medical crews. In several documented cases, secondary drone strikes were executed directly on ambulances and rescue squads arriving to treat victims of previous artillery or drone attacks.
This represents a chilling evolution of contemporary warfare. The remote nature of drone piloting often creates a psychological detachment, transforming lethal actions into a macabre simulation for the perpetrators. However, the legal reality remains absolute. The deliberate targeting of non-combatants, medical infrastructure, and rescue workers constitutes a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
The SBU’s decision to issue in-absentia charges of war crimes is a pivotal phase in establishing accountability. Digital footprints, intercepted radio communications, and flight data retrieved by Ukrainian intelligence serve as immutable evidence. This meticulous documentation ensures that these ten operators, along with their commanders, will eventually face justice, whether through national courts or international tribunals in The Hague. The era of digital anonymity for war criminals is officially over.