Kherson Weekly: 1-7 February 2025
A Weekly Review of War-Related Events and Information Space in & around Kherson
Photo: Kherson Police
Video of the Week
Osvedomitell Alex, the infamous Russian milblogger, shared a video originally posted on the morning of 05 February by Oleksii Biloshytskyi, head of the Ukrainian Patrol Police. In this video, a police officer is wounded in a Russian drone attack and treated by his colleagues, suffering serious leg injuries. This resulted in a series of posts from Osvedomitell Alex and the KHABR Group obsessing over this event, displaying their bloodlust and racism. Let’s unpack it.
Video: Oleksii Biloshytskyi
The Russian war crime-blogger Osvedomitell Alex captioned it:
"Kherson. Red Zone. A view from the pigs."
The wounded officer, referred to by his nickname “Lyokha", became the subject of Alex's subsequent posts, offering insults & threats:
"300!!! - go blow the tractor driver."
This is a threatening reference to a 44-year-old tractor driver killed in a Russian drone strike on 27 January, according to Oleksandr Prokudin.
Osvedomitell Alex attempts to use the officer's pain against him:
"Only when Lyokha felt that his execution could come soon did he switch to his native language, that is, Russian. Lyokha!!! So why was all this necessary? Get well Lyokha and don't go to the Red Zone again."
In the video, the officer is indeed screaming in pain and speaking to his colleagues in Russian -- just as many Ukrainians can and continue to do.
It must be stated clearly: one's ability to speak Russian does not make one "a Russian". The wounded officer does indeed say in Russian, "I can't!" "I can't hear at all!" His name is also a Russian diminutive: the Russian name “Aleksei” is reduced to “Lyokha” for a nickname. But this does not make him a Russian, despite how Russian imperialists and propagandists want this to be true.
Alex then shared this meme:
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Translation guide:
Командир отделения ставит задачу бойцам - The squad leader gives a task to the fighters
Бойцы - fighters
Командир отделения - the squad leaders
Командир взвода - the platoon commander
Osvedomitell Alex's caption sarcastically taunted the wounded officer much to the amusement of his audience:
"Lyokha, don't be sad, here's a clip for you. And I'll show you the video later, we'll analyze the actions of your brothers-in-arms."
Finally, he levied a false claim that the officer died. Three officers were wounded on 5 February, none died.
"And Lyokha is 200 (dead).........however sad. He only started speaking Russian and everything ended so sadly. P.S. Let's believe that this is not true."
On 07 February, Osvedomitell Alex and the KHABR Group posted their thermal video footage of the attack on the police vehicle, which wounded three officers. The Russian war criminals even admitted their mistake in claiming the officer died.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Lyokha survived. It seems like they managed to save his legs. And very well. Typically, it might not go like it did for this cock. The group "KHABR" GV "Dnepr" from the 18th OA worked.
Gallery of the Week
A 46-year-old woman was rescued from the rubble after a Russian airstrike in central Kherson on 02 February. More on the strike in “Terror from the Left Bank.”
Photo: Kherson ODA
Terror from the Left Bank
#1
01.31.2025
I want to bring a video from last week to light first, as this video shared by Osvedomitell Alex features previously unaddressed rhetoric from the Russian propagandist and war crime denier. The new style of video features a caption containing the phrase “For The Hague.” In this way, the war crime-blogger is sarcastically acknowledging the fact that many media organizations and human rights groups are tracking his posts because of the unique and shocking way in which he posts strikes on civilians.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Geolocation by 99 Dominik
Kherson. Red zone.
For the Hague. Disguised as a civilian, a Ukrainian Armed Forces militant went to charge an ABK in a store near the PVD. Almost all stores of this type are closed, and those that are still functioning are used for a dual purpose and as a transit warehouse. Later, the cock was finished off, but that's another story.
Any movement of vehicles will be considered a legitimate target. All critical infrastructure facilities are a legitimate target.
Civilians should be extremely careful and cautious. Limit your movements, leave the area if possible.
#2
02.05.2025
Another addition to the “For The Hague” series. This video features what appears to a civilian with a walking stick, who is struck by a Russian skid drop. From the Russian side, Osvedomitell Alex claims that it is a firearm and that the man shot at his drone.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
From the Russian terror-blogger:
Kherson. Red zone .
One rooster escaped from his henhouse (PVD). He couldn't think of anything smarter than to take a gun. Well, to his credit, he did fire once. Naturally, our operators handled it from the first attempt. Other footage is not for the channel, but for The Hague .
Any movement of vehicles will be considered a legitimate target. All critical infrastructure facilities are a legitimate target.
Civilians should be extremely attentive and careful. Limit your movements, leave this area if possible.
A couple important things to note:
Whether or not the civilian is holding a firearm is inconclusive based on video footage. My bias and that of the Russian milblogger lead to opposing interpretations, but I believe this screenshot below shows that what would be the “barrel” of the “rifle” is simply not straight enough to be a functional firearm. Based on analysis of the image, the “barrel” makes a 202° angle with what could be the “receiver.”
Photo: Osvedomitell Alex
Secondly, if the man was a civilian, owning or possessing a weapon does not make him a combatant. Ukraine allows private citizens to possess arms during martial law, as long as the firearm is registered with the National Police, and then turned in after the cessation of martial law. International humanitarian law clearly states that civilians who are in the process of directly participating in combat may be subject to targeting, but nowhere in this video was the Russian claim that the man “fire[d] once” proven.
Rather, we see a man with an object that is unlikely to be a firearm running away before being wounded by a skid drop. This man is clearly protected under Sections 3 of Articles 13 and 51 of International Humanitarian Law, unless clear evidence is provided that he was absolutely engaged in combat with Russian forces. Yet, any kind of combat with Ukrainian forces is rarely shown by terror-bloggers like Alex because they are seeking to obfuscate the truth with their drone footage and captions to further their goal of conducting daily genocidal attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population.
#3
02.02.2025
On 02 February, a Russian airstrike hit the central part of the city, destroying a neighborhood near Kanatna Vulytsia, between Robocha and Torhova Vulytsias. Two women were wounded in the bombing. One 40-year-old woman was treated at the hospital for her wounds, while another 46-year-old woman was severely injured and rescued from the rubble.
Video: Oleksandr Prokudin
Geolocation by 99 Dominik
#4
02.02.2025
Also on 02 February, a Russian drone strike on a public bus wounded five civilians in the suburb of Tekstilne, located between Zelenivka and Antonivka. The attack wounded a 38-year-old mother and her two children (12-year-old boy & 13-year-old girl), a 52-year-old woman, and a 54-year-old woman.
Photo: Kherson Police
Geolocation by 99 Dominik
#5
02.07.2025
As the “War on Transportation” continues, Russian drone pilots target smaller vans used to deliver humanitarian aid, repair infrastructure facilities, or evacuate civilians. One person was injured in a skid drop on a van in Antonivka.
Video: Osvedomitell Alex
Geolocation by 99 Dominik
Tracking Russian Terror
Data: Kherson ODA; National Police; Kherson Oblast Prosecutor’s Office; Oleksandr Prokudin
Situation Report
The Russian Human Safari roared back into full force this week, with one of the worst days since June occurring on 05 February. With 22 civilian casualties in one day, it was a near-record day and the deadliest day since 06 January (also 22 casualties). Five civilians were injured via shelling, while a 52-year-old man was killed, three police officers and 13 other civilians were injured via drones.
Since tracking began on 21 June 2024, 10 medical volunteers & personnel, firefighters, and police officers have been killed and 83 more have been wounded by Russian attacks. One 34-year-old police officer was injured in a drone attack on 02 February. Three other police officers were wounded in a double-tap strike on their evacuation vehicle. Officers were attempting to evacuate several civilians injured previously by drones in Antonivka, when Russian drone pilots struck them, according to the National Police.
In all of January, Russian forces maimed or murdered 231 Ukrainian non-combatants: 28 people were killed and another 203 civilians were wounded by Russian attacks. Of those victims, Russian drone attacks killed 20 and wounded 132 civilians, while shelling killed 8 and wounded 71 civilians.
As of 07 February 2025, 1765 civilians have been killed or wounded by Russian aggression since 21 June 2024, in Kherson Raion. 82 civilians have been killed by shelling, while 677 have been wounded. Another 81 civilians have been killed by drones, while 925 civilians have been injured (a total of 1006 drone casualties).
Weekly Civilian Victims of Russian Aggression
Shelling:
Killed: 2
Wounded: 16 (+ 59-year-old woman & 61-year-old man wounded in Antonivka on 17 Jan; 35, 37, and 38-year-old men wounded in Kherson on 19 Jan; 63-year-old man wounded in Antonivka on 30 Jan)
Drones:
Killed: 4
Wounded: 43
Total: 65 (+ 6 civilians injured last month who sought medical attention this week)
Data: National Police
Weekly Buildings & Infrastructure Report
Photo: Kherson Police
Private Homes & Apartments: 90
Infrastructure: 10 (+ “critical infrastructure facilities and gas pipelines”)
Data: National Police
Weekly Damaged Vehicle Report
Photo: Kherson Police
Civilian Auto: 15
Public Transportation: 2
Police & EMS: 4
Data: National Police
Sources
Ukrainian Sources
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-shist-poraneno-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky-rosiiskykh-atak-na-khersonshchyni
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/na-khersonshchyni-cherez-rosiisku-ahresiiu-troie-liudei-poraneno-politsiia-fiksuie-naslidky-atak
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/politsiia-khersonshchyny-dokumentuie-naslidky-cherhovykh-rosiiskykh-atak-odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-20-poraneno-sered-postrazhdalykh-troie-politseiskykh
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/politsiia-khersonshchyny-dokumentuie-naslidky-cherhovykh-rosiiskykh-atak-odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-10-poraneno
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/na-khersonshchyni-v-rezultati-rosiiskoi-ahresii-odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-dvoie-poraneno-pravookhorontsi-fiksuiut-naslidky
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/politsiia-khersonshchyny-fiksuie-naslidky-cherhovykh-rosiiskykh-atak-odna-liudyna-zahynula-ta-14-poraneno-sered-postrazhdalykh-dvoie-ditei-ta-politseiskyi
Kitsoft. (n.d.). Національна поліція України. https://www.npu.gov.ua/news/zahyblyi-ta-poraneni-myrni-zhyteli-poshkodzheni-budynky-ta-avtomobili-slidchi-politsii-khersonshchyny-dokumentuiut-naslidky-rosiiskykh-obstriliv
Олексій Білошицький. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/OBiloshytskiy/1280
Олексій Білошицький. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/OBiloshytskiy/1284
Поліція Херсонської області. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/khersonpolice/14291
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/5889
Прокудін Олександр - Офіційна сторінка. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/6022
🇺🇦Херcонська ОДА (ОВА). (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/khersonskaODA/30853
Russian Sources
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/23931
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24103
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24104
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24105
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24106
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24014
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24119
От Мариуполя до Карпат. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/osvedomitell_alex/24154
ХАБР TEAM | БПЛА. (n.d.). Telegram. https://t.me/habr_bpla/762
English Sources
Dominik on X: “A Russian drone dropped grenade on a person in Dniprovskyi District. 46.681869, 32.698382 Antonivka, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine @GeoConfirmed @Cen4infoRes @kelley7622 Source: https://t.co/X2lU7V28Ft https://t.co/L8semNhpQg” / X. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1885410857548427774
Dominik on X: “A Russian drone dropped grenade on the van and injures a person. Location of a person - 46.673278, 32.685850 Antonivka, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine @GeoConfirmed @Cen4infoRes @kelley7622 Source: https://t.co/TZ3JSD5K7P https://t.co/p917WU8n9w” / X. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1887876091529867493
Dominik on X: “Destroyed minibus, reportedly after a Russian drone attack. 0:06-0:27 - 46.686067, 32.651403 Kherson, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine @GeoConfirmed @Cen4infoRes @kelley7622 Source: (9/9) https://t.co/Iuud6BanPV https://t.co/dn4TDcDGdL” / X. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1886338500666007859
Dominik on X: “The aftermath of a Russian attack in Kherson, one civilian were injured. Point of view in minute 0:00 - 46.637781, 32.605328 Injured civilian in minute 2:27 - 46.637938, 32.605627 Kherson, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine @GeoConfirmed @Cen4infoRes @kelley7622 https://t.co/3WTIWXziDh” / X. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1886094947239010402
IHL Treaties - Additional Protocol (II) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 - Article 13. (n.d.). https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/apii-1977/article-13
IHL Treaties - Additional Protocol (I) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 - Article 51. (n.d.). https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/api-1977/article-51