Russia uses FPV drones in Kupansk attack, resulting in three injuries, among them medical personnel
In a troubling development, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has reported a significant surge in civilian casualties caused by Russian military attacks. The mission's findings highlight a sharp rise in the use of drones such as First-Person View (FPV) and loitering munitions, particularly in urban and frontline areas.
The highest number of civilian fatalities in over three years was recorded in June 2025, with 232 civilians killed and 1,343 injured. This contributes to a total of 6,754 civilian casualties in the first half of 2025—a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The HRMMU's report attributes these casualties across at least 16 oblasts and in Kyiv to Russia’s expanded use of long-range missiles and short-range drones. The increased frequency and destructive nature of these drone and missile strikes have been emphasized by UN officials as a key factor in the rising civilian toll.
While the reports do not single out Kupiansk explicitly for FPV drone attacks causing an increase in civilian casualties, the city's proximity to active frontline zones where such drones are deployed suggests that it may have been affected.
On July 16, Russian forces launched attacks on Kupiansk using FPV drones. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, an attack at 8:00 AM resulted in the injury of two medics, men aged 53 and 59, and the hit of an emergency medical vehicle. Around 1:25 PM, another attack targeted a residential building, injuring a 53-year-old man. Two of the casualties from these attacks were emergency medical workers.
The HRMMU has also reported incidents involving the targeting of evacuation buses and ambulances, further underscoring the deliberate nature of these attacks against civilians.
The UN's findings underscore the urgent need for an end to these attacks on civilians and for the protection of civilians in Ukraine. The mission's report emphasizes the importance of holding those responsible for these attacks accountable for their actions.
The surge in civilian casualties, as reported by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), is not limited to military conflicts, but also includes instances from general news, politics, and crime-and-justice sectors, as the use of drones and long-range missiles has resulted in a 54% increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2024. The city of Kupiansk, in particular, has experienced these attacks, with two medics injured and an emergency medical vehicle hit by FPV drones on July 16, underscoring the deliberate nature of these attacks against civilians.
