Anne Applebaum warns Russia's drone war could spread beyond the battlefield

American historian and journalist Anne Applebaum warns in a recent column for The Atlantic that Russia's use of drones in Ukraine could extend beyond the battlefield. In August, Applebaum described Russian drones as tools for "human hunting," citing the case of a 52-year-old vegetable vendor in Kherson who was chased by a drone despite holding only garlic and pointing to his vegetables.

Since 2024, Ukrainian officials report that Russian drones have been deliberately targeting civilians in Kherson and other parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. Applebaum argues that while drones were initially seen as a humanitarian advantage, allowing operators to avoid civilian casualties, Russian operators are now using them to hunt civilians deliberately.

She warns that the world is not prepared for the widespread use of intelligent and lethal machines, suggesting that such technology could soon impact areas like crime, terrorism, law enforcement, and the legal system. The report on Russian drone strikes in Kherson, published last year by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, found that civilians were targeted in a variety of circumstances, including pedestrians and people in vehicles.

The report also noted that ambulances were struck, apparently to prevent medics from providing emergency treatment.