Russia’s ‘Safari’ Drone Attacks Turn Zaporizhzhia Into a New War Zone

Russia’s ‘Safari’ Drone Attacks Turn Zaporizhzhia Into a New War Zone

In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, the war is assuming a new and ever more dangerous dimension, since Russian drone and glide bomb attacks are turning everyday life into a continuous fight for survival. People who previously regarded air strikes as an inevitable aspect of the war now speak of a more direct danger, with reports stating that small FPV drones are actively targeting both vehicles and individuals on the city streets. Ukrainians have started to refer to these attacks as a "safari" since the drones are able to track down and strike on targets in a manner which makes civilians feel as though they are being hunted.

Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the city of Zaporizhzhia — an important industrial city with a population of about 700,000 — has continued to face pressure. Russian troops have been stationed to the south of the city and have on numerous occasions launched missiles and drones at the area. Yet both the residents and the local authorities state that the pattern of attacks has recently become more intense, with FPV drones appearing more often and glide bombs of greater power being used against the city more regularly.

For Kateryna Lahuta, who is 41 and runs a seafood business, the changing course of the war became a personal experience last month when two bombs launched by the Russians hit her business. The seafood processing plant, which supplied her shops, was seriously damaged and eventually caught fire. The attack did more than destroy a place of work; it also harmed customer confidence, disrupted her business plans and made it harder to think about the future.

Lahuta stated that the situation had been terrifying as far back as six months ago, but the degree of danger had altered. She compared the present situation to a "safari", illustrating the increasing fear that drones might suddenly show up over roads, vehicles and in public areas. According to her experience, the drone attacks carried out by Russia in Zaporizhzhia are having an impact not only on military targets but also on businesses and the broader civilian economy.

FPV drones are small and highly maneuverable aircraft which can be controlled by means of a live video feed. Although they have already turned some sections of the battlefield into very dangerous areas, their increasing use in and around populated areas is giving rise to a different kind of threat. When journalists went to visit Lahuta’s damaged business they too had to take cover after hearing the distinctive buzzing sound of an FPV drone.

Ivan Fedorov, the governor of Zaporizhzhia, stated that Russia is intensifying its pressure on the civilian population while at the same time launching attacks on infrastructure. He added that Russian FPV drones have been aiming at groups of civilians, vehicles and public transport, especially in the southern areas of the city. He said that the enemy has made exerting maximum pressure on the civilian population a priority.

It is particularly hard to deal with this danger since different types of weapons pose different kinds of threats; FPV drones are able to move quickly and carry out attacks at a relatively short range, whereas air-launched glide bombs are much bigger and more destructive. Ukrainian authorities state that these bombs are difficult to intercept unless stronger air-defence systems are available.

In response, the city has been attempting to guard its roads and public transport. In the southern Kosmos district the authorities are putting in place drone nets above the roads with the aim of protecting vehicles from FPV attacks. The purpose of this measure is to lower the chance of drones hitting cars and buses, even though local drivers note that this kind of protection cannot prevent larger bombs.

Two private bus drivers who serve the Kosmos district stated that the rise in attacks had frightened both the drivers and the passengers. One of the drivers pointed out that drone netting would not provide protection against larger weapons. The increasing danger has set up a difficult situation for the city in that people still need buses and trams if they are to go to work, shop and access essential services, but each trip now involves an extra risk.

Officials from Ukraine state that more than 95 per cent of enemy FPV drones are intercepted by their air defence systems. Yet a small number that do get through can still cause serious damage. Fedorov mentioned that on the most adverse days, which happen a number of times each month, as many as ten drones may pass through the defences and result in injuries or damage.

The public transport system in Zaporizhzhia has already felt the effects of the attacks. The authority in charge of the city's transit is currently trying out equipment that uses drones to monitor bus drivers and is at the same time experimenting with more robust, shatter-proof glass. This year, 12 buses or trams operated by the city have been damaged as a result of FPV drones or explosions from larger weapons. Although these attacks have taken place, the officials have no intention of cutting back on public transport services since they are still essential to the city's residents.

For the 34-year-old seamstress Ania Syvova, danger has now become a regular part of her daily routine. Her husband is taking part in the war and she has sent their six-year-old daughter to an underground kindergarten which is meant to give protection against attacks. Last month, while she was going home to the southern part of the city, Syvova witnessed an FPV drone hit a bus nearby and said that she waslucky to have survived the incident.

Her situation is also a reflection of the broader experience of ordinary people. They are learning to go on with their work, travelling and bringing up children, even though they know an attack could happen at any time. Syvova stated that she and her daughter had got used to the situation since, although it sounded terrible, they had no other way of living at the moment.

The threat doesn't end with drones; according to the governor, Zaporizhzhia is being struck by glide bombs four or six times each day. He stated that the bombs' flight paths are unpredictable, which makes it very difficult for civilians to anticipate them. In a recent attack, Russia dropped eight bombs on residential areas within about an hour and a half and as a result one person was killed and 31 others were injured, the governor said.

The fact that the recent attacks have taken place at certain times has introduced a new sense of fear. In some cases, the strikes have happened at noon and in the early evening, both of which are times when the streets and public areas are usually busy. As a result, civilians can no longer take it for granted that the day time is safer. People can be in danger while they are travelling, working, shopping or going back home.

Tetiana, a government employee who is 38 years old, stated that the Russian forces had seemed to have become much more aggressive over the previous month, and that her neighbourhood had been bombed six times in one week. While standing outside her damaged apartment building, among the burnt wreckage of the vehicles, she explained the emotional effect of having to live under constant attacks.

Her position also shows one of the most difficult decisions that civilians in frontline and near-frontline cities in Ukraine have to make: whether to stay or to leave. In some cases, moving might provide greater personal safety, but their work is still important to the communities they serve. Tetiana stated that she was having trouble with this decision since people relied on her work to ensure that essential services kept running.

The economic effects are likewise becoming difficult to ignore. She stated that the attacks had caused customers to leave her business and had made long-term planning almost impossible. Meanwhile, the war has led to a lack of workers since so many people have joined the military. As a result, businesses are confronted with a combination of destroyed property, lower demand, labor shortages and ongoing security risks.

Zaporizhzhia is so important since it is the administrative centre of a region which Russia considers to be its own, even though Russian troops do not have control over the whole of the region. On the ground, the Russian armies have had difficulty in making progress along the narrow strip lying south of the city, as the Ukrainian forces have put up strong resistance. Although the ground forces have made only limited advances, the air campaign has not ceased, and the increasing use of drones and glide bombs is driving the war deeper into civilian life.

Similar attacks are occurring in other cities in Ukraine. In the northeastern part of Kharkiv as well, FPV drone attacks have become a major issue. The mayor, Ihor Terekhov, referred to the drones as one of the main tools of terror used against the city and stated that 45 strikes were recorded there last month.

The increasing use of FPV drones is altering the character of the war in Ukraine. Although traditional front lines are still significant, the gap between combat on the battlefield and civilian life is growing narrower. It is not necessary for a large number of troops to generate fear; a single small aircraft is enough to threaten a vehicle, disrupt a bus route or cause people to take shelter.

That is the reason why the "safari" description has become so influential among the residents. It signifies more than simply a new military tactic; it reflects the psychological impact of being aware that a drone might be searching for a target somewhere in the vicinity. For civilians, the danger is not always visible until the sound of the drone is heard, leaving them only a few seconds to react.

Normality still prevails in Zaporizhzhia. The cafes are still open, commuters keep going through the city and public transport remains in operation even though it has been the subject of repeated attacks. The children go to the underground schools and kindergartens, and the workers continue to carry out essential services. This sense of normality exists together with air-raid warnings, damaged buildings, vehicles that have been set on fire and the ever-present possibility of another strike.

This situation demonstrates that the war between Russia and Ukraine is increasingly being fought outside of traditional battlefields. In Zaporizhzhia, businesses, buses, roads, apartment blocks and ordinary families have found themselves involved in a conflict in which drones and bombs can interfere with daily life at any time. Although Russian ground forces may have had difficulty achieving major advances towards the city, the ongoing air campaign is exerting a different kind of pressure.

For the people who live in the area, the biggest difficulty is not any longer just putting up with one major attack; rather, it is learning to get on with the prospect of the next attack. The noise of a drone, the sudden sounding of the warning siren or an unexpected explosion can at once ruin the sense of normality which the residents are attempting to restore.

Zaporizhzhia thus provides a clear indication of the way modern warfare is evolving. The front line is not any longer determined merely by trenches and soldiers; it can also lie along a street in a city, a bus route, a small business or the courtyard of an apartment block. Since FPV drones and glide bombs are still influencing the course of the conflict, the war is now reaching deeper into civilian life—and for many of the residents of Zaporizhzhia, managing to get through another ordinary day has become an act of survival.

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