Russian drones aim at civilians in Cherson, Ukraine

Russian drones aim at civilians in Cherson, Ukraine

KHerson, Ukraine - Russia started to get control of the South Ukrainian city of Kherson. The important access route is threatened with drones, while a targeted attack on a crucial bridge is supposed to split the city. On Sunday, air raids damaged an important bridge between the island of Korabel and the capital, which triggered a comprehensive evacuation campaign for the estimated 1,800 Ukrainian civilians who still live there. According to residents and rescuers, the Russian armed forces have not attacked the evacuation efforts in the past three days, which represents a rare breathing space from the daily barbaric drone attacks on civilians. Later on Wednesday, however, videos were published that showed that Russian attacks near the bridge and on the island, where some Ukrainian military members are also to be.

The situation in KHerson

Russian military bloggers have pointed out the residents of Kherson that the main advanced path to the city from the north is now targeted by long -distance roar. It was unclear how strongly this threat had affected on Wednesday when CNN observed significant freight and civilian traffic along the street, including a large group of cyclists who were temporarily protected from drones over the asphalt.

Russian ambitions in KHerson

The conquest of the city and region of Kherson - which was taken in the first days of the war and then freed in November 2022 by a quick Ukrainian counterattack - one of the main goals of President Vladimir Putin in Conflict . The renewed pressure to separate Cora from the rest of the city arouses concerns that the Russian armed forces could try to bomb the flat terrain in the coming weeks.

evacuation actions and their challenges

The Korabel evacuations continued on Wednesday. Retter reported CNN of a quiet mood when they picked up some of the 925 people who were saved by the island until the end of the day. Local residents reported that the shooting on the peninsula continued unabated, but apparently drone the evacuation vehicles. Exhausted civilians cried out of relief and fear for their future when they reached a help point.

The voices of the evacuated

nadiya, who was sitting in the back of the armored vehicle that she brought out, said: "You have been bombing so strongly since morning. When will it end? She reported that the drones "buzzed" on that day but did not reach their area. "We are so tired of it. When will Trump come or someone ... We don't earn such an age as we have here." She had heard of the deadline that US President Donald Trump had set for a peace treaty with Russia, but it hadn't changed anything for her.

The reality of the civilian population in KHerson

Most older evacuates took a look into the future and were looking for accommodation in the city, but had only a few alternatives. Nina, 85, was exhausted at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and held on to her walking aid, while savior had already brought her pockets away. "There is no plan, I will live where they bring me," she said. "I just stand on one leg. I have had enough of this shelling, my nerves no longer stand up."

attacks on civil goals

Local Ukrainian officials emphasized that every Russian withdrawal of drone attacks to the evacuation convoy was irrelevant compared to the months of repeated attacks on civil goals. "They don't care what they aim at," said Yaroslav Shanko, head of the military administration of the city of Kherson. "To talk about any humanity of the Russians is absolutely pointless. Attacks on the community and the city are constant."

civilians are regularly targeted by Russian drones, the operators of which show their ruthless attacks in online contributions. The main hospital in Kherson treated 25 patients due to injuries by shelling or drone attacks, including three new patients in the morning and two more in the afternoon, according to the health staff there.

Oleh, 62, was injured on Wednesday at 4:00 a.m. when he ran outside after a drone attack that set fire to his neighbor's house. Another "double attack" followed. He fell backwards over a fence, but his legs protected his torso as they hung over the top edge. Associations covered the Shrapnell wounds on its feet.

"It is dangerous there, you have to be attentive," said Oleh about the detecting of drones. "A double attack. They act. They destroy a house, it burns. A minute later comes another to check whether the house is burning or if someone tries to extinguish it. And then they kill and destroy more."

Oleh is one of many patients who live alone and cannot be released quickly from the hospital because he cannot walk. During CNN’s visit, three drones hovered above the facility, reported local officials. The popping of shots and the sums of their engines could be heard through the window mats of the hospital.