The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has found that Russian forces have been using drones to chase and bomb civilians near frontline areas, forcing thousands to flee, in what it calls a crime against humanity. The report, based on interviews with 226 victims, witnesses, aid workers, and officials, and hundreds of verified videos, documents attacks in three southern regions near the Dnipro River over more than a year.
“These attacks were committed as part of a coordinated policy to drive out civilians from those territories and amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of population,” the 17-page report states. One woman from Kherson was pursued by a drone while parking her car, attacked in her garage, and later hit by two more drone strikes on her home. Russia denies targeting civilians but has openly caused thousands of civilian deaths in Ukraine.
In Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces are strengthening their positions as around 200 Russian troops infiltrate the city in small groups. The Russian defense ministry claimed assaults near the train station, while open-source mapping shows roughly one-fifth of the city’s southwestern area remains contested. Analysts say Russian gains in Pokrovsk are tactically significant but unlikely to break Ukrainian defenses. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported fierce fighting and logistical challenges in the city, emphasizing continued resistance.
Meanwhile, Russian oil company Lukoil announced it is selling its overseas assets due to US sanctions, which also target Rosneft. The sanctions freeze all US-based assets and bar American companies from doing business with the firms. Washington has given international partners one month to sever ties or face secondary sanctions, affecting access to US banks, shippers, and insurers.
Norway is monitoring potential radioactive contamination after Russia tested a nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. The missile’s radioactive core could release hazardous radiation, though no spikes have yet been reported. US President Donald Trump called the test “not appropriate.”
Kenya’s foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi reported that some Kenyans were recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine and detained in Russian military camps. The Kenyan government is negotiating their repatriation.
North Korea continues to support Russia’s war, with its foreign minister visiting the Kremlin to express “unwavering understanding and support.” South Korean assessments suggest North Korea has sent roughly 15,000 troops and significant weaponry, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to assist Russia in Ukraine.
The UN report highlights the severe risks to civilians from Russian drone operations, while ongoing fighting in Pokrovsk and international responses, including sanctions and foreign troop involvement, indicate the conflict’s continued complexity and escalation.
