The Security Service of Ukraine has documented nearly 50,000 launches of Shahed-type drones targeting Ukrainian territory since the start of the full-scale invasion, Slidstvo.Info reported, citing Security Service of Ukraine.
These drone attacks reportedly have killed 253 people and injured 1,524 others.
Russia uses Shaheds to strike civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, resulting in casualties among the civilian population and extensive material damage, including destruction and damage to buildings and facilities protected under international humanitarian law, the investigation states.
Between February 2022 and August 2025, the SBU established almost 50,000 instances of Shahed launches against Ukrainian territory. Investigators have registered over 1,600 criminal proceedings based on attacks on civilian infrastructure objects.
The Office of the Prosecutor General reported that UAVs were not previously part of Russian military doctrine. As a result, the Russian army lacked a clear structure defining responsibility for these types of weapons.
"Gradually, they are developing specific units, like our Unmanned Systems Forces. We are beginning to understand who makes the decisions to strike. We worked extensively with our colleagues from intelligence services to gather this information 'piece by piece.' And now we will name specific individuals and bring them to justice in absentia proceedings, but I hope this is a matter of time before real accountability," said Yurii Bielousov, head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in Armed Conflict Conditions at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (until September 2025).
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