A Russian drone strike killed a 61-year-old Supreme Court judge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
On a Humanitarian Mission
The attack occurred in the border town of Kozachya Lopan on Saturday, as reported by Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional administration of Kharkiv.
The judge, identified by Ukrainian media as Leonid Loboyko, was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer when the drone struck, killing him instantly.
Ukrainian media confirmed the victim’s identity, and the Supreme Court also acknowledged Loboyko’s death on its official website, according to L'Independent.
Loboyko was reportedly on a humanitarian mission, delivering aid to local residents at the time of the attack, according to a statement released by the prosecutor’s office.
Three Women Injured
Three women who were nearby during the strike were also injured and rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment. Their conditions have not yet been updated publicly.
This strike is part of Russia’s increasing reliance on drones in its invasion of Ukraine. Russia has used a variety of drones, including reconnaissance and combat drones, to target military and civilian infrastructure.
Notably, the Orlan-10 and Shahed-136 drones, the latter supplied by Iran, are among the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly deployed in these types of operations. The Shahed-136 is a loitering munition, also known as a kamikaze drone, designed to crash into its target and explode on impact.
Its range of up to 2,500 kilometers (about 1,550 miles) makes it a deadly tool for such precision strikes.
As of Saturday afternoon, Ukrainian authorities had not yet issued an official statement regarding the death of the judge.
