UN Humanitarian Chief Warns Russian Drones Endanger Civilians and Aid Workers in Kherson

UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, speaking to the Associated Press after visiting Kherson on Wednesday, said kamikaze and surveillance drones fired from Russian-held territory east of the Dnipro River routinely target civilians, vehicles, and public transit on the Ukrainian-held western bank 12. Fletcher said marked humanitarian vehicles have been struck despite international humanitarian law protections, restricting aid operations, and that local organizations, which carry out more than two-thirds of Ukraine's humanitarian fund activities, report feeling unprotected 13. He said the UN needs more than $2 billion for its Ukraine response this year, with roughly 70-75% of the hyper-prioritized funding requirement covered so far, and warned that winter damage to power, water, and gas systems could leave millions vulnerable 12. A separate OCHA assessment released the same week found 907 aid workers were victimized by violence worldwide last year and more than 1,000 killed over three years, with drones killing 80 civilians in Ukraine in April alone 4.