Russian drones chase civilians in Cherson, Ukraine

Russian drones chase civilians in Cherson, Ukraine

in the South Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russia has started a new attempt to take control of the area. This happens through drone strokes on important access roads and targeted attacks on a decisive bridge that the city connects with the surroundings.

attacks on the bridge and evacuation efforts

Air strikes damaged on Sunday a central bridge between the island of Korabel and the capital Kheron. This led to a comprehensive evacuation campaign for the still 1,800 civilians who live there. According to residents and rescuers, the Russian armed forces have not specifically attacked the evacuations in the past three days, which is a rare breathing space from the barbaric drone attacks of the past few months. Later, on Wednesday, however, there were considerable Russian attacks near the bridge and on the island, where Ukrainian military also stays.

new threats to the civilian population

Russian military bloggers warned the residents of Kherson that the main access road to the city could now be targeted by long -range drones. A CNN team noticed that despite these threats on Wednesday, considerable freight and civilian traffic was observed on the street, including a large group of cyclists who were protected from impending attacks by a network stretched over the road.

strategic importance of KHerson

The intake of the city of Kherson and the surrounding region was a central goal of Russia President Vladimir Putin at the beginning of the war. This region was conquered in the first days of the conflict, but freed in November 2022 by a quick Ukrainian counterattack. The increased pressure to separate the basket from the rest of the city arouses concern that the Russian armed forces could try to bomb and then fill the flat terrain in the coming weeks.

The human costs of the conflict

The Korabel evacuations continued on Wednesday. Retter reported CNN of calm moments when they picked up some of the 925 people who were evacuated by the island until the end of the day. However, the local population reported that the fire on the peninsula continued unabated. Exhausted residents cried both out of relief and fear for their future when they reached an aid position.

nadiya, who was sitting in the back of a armored vehicle, expressed: "You strike so strongly since morning. When will that end? We're already crazy about this. When will you finally come to reason? She reported that drones continued to fly across her area that day, but did not become active in her immediate environment. "We are sorry. When will Trump come, or someone else ... We don't deserve an age as we have to experience here."

Committee of Humanitarian Aid

Most older evacuated hats will quickly be promised accommodation when they arrive in the city, but were often without alternatives. Nina, 85, sat exhausted at 35 degrees Celsius, held up with a walking stick and was already separated from her things. "There is no plan, I will live where I am put," she said. "I can only stand on one leg. I'm so tired of this gunfire that I no longer stand it."

criticism of the attacks on civilians

The local Ukrainian officials emphasized that every Russian withdrawal of drone attacks to evacuation vehicles is marginal compared to the last few months. "They don't care what their goals are," said Yaroslav Shanko, head of Kherson's military administration. "Talking about any humanity on the part of the Russians is absolutely pointless. Attacks on the community and the city are constant."

regular drone strokes

civilians are regularly pursued by Russian drones, whose operators proudly display their cruel attacks in Internet contributions. 25 patients treated in Kherson for shooting and drone injuries, including three new cases on Wednesday morning and another two in the afternoon.

Oleh, 62, was hit on Wednesday at 4 a.m. when he ran out to help his neighbor, whose house had caught fire in a drone attack. Another "Double-Tap" drone attack occurred when he fell over a fence, with his legs hanging over it and protecting his upper body, but not his legs. Bandages hid the Schrapnell wounds on its feet.

"It is dangerous there, you have to listen carefully," said Oleh, while reporting on the recognition of the drones. "A double attack. How they work. They destroy a house, it burns. A minute later the next comes to check whether the house is burning or someone tries to extinguish the fire. And then they continue to kill."

Oleh is one of many patients who live alone and can quickly not be released from the hospital because he cannot go. During CNN’s visit, three drones hovered over the facility, while the rattling of shots and sums of their engines penetrated through the window grids of the hospital.