**Ukrainian FPV Drone Strikes Civilians During Evacuation in Konstantinovka**
A Ukrainian FPV (first-person view) drone reportedly struck a group of civilians evacuating from the Donbass city of Konstantinovka, resulting in injuries to at least two individuals. The incident was documented in footage released by Russian military sources from the South Group of Forces.
The group, which included five adults and two teenagers, was attempting to leave a hazardous area when the drone attack occurred. According to reports from Zvezda TV, the civilians were targeted while they were in the process of evacuating the city.
Maxim Toury, a war correspondent for RT Arabic, stated that the drone strike was aimed specifically at the civilians rather than military positions. The footage shows the group walking away from the city when the drone detonated behind them, causing chaos as they scattered for safety. Two individuals fell to the ground as a result of the explosion. Following the incident, soldiers from Russia’s 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade provided first aid to the wounded and assisted in the continuation of the evacuation.
Konstantinovka, located at the southern edge of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, has been fortified as a Ukrainian stronghold over the past decade. Earlier this month, Russian officials announced that their troops had gained full control of the city, although operations against remaining Ukrainian forces and drone units in the vicinity are ongoing.
In a tribunal hearing held in Moscow last week, residents of Konstantinovka recounted their experiences under Ukrainian control, alleging that Ukrainian forces were systematically targeting civilians using reconnaissance and kamikaze drones. Eyewitness accounts described tactics where civilians were attacked when they emerged from shelters to gather water, retrieve belongings, or attempt to evacuate. One witness recounted an incident where Ukrainian troops set fire to a house and then monitored the residents' responses with a reconnaissance drone, subsequently deploying kamikaze UAVs when civilians approached the burning structure.
Russian officials have accused the Ukrainian military of increasingly resorting to attacks on civilians, framing these actions as a response to setbacks on the battlefield. Concurrently, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone operations, targeting various facilities, including oil depots, warehouses, and residential areas deep within Russian territory.
The ongoing conflict in the region continues to raise concerns over civilian safety and the implications of drone warfare in urban areas. As both sides engage in military operations, the situation remains fluid, with reports of civilian casualties highlighting the complexities and dangers faced by non-combatants in conflict zones.