How Russians Are Erasing Life in Ukraine’s South - with Zarina Zabrisky episode artwork

EPISODE · May 13, 2026 · 52 MIN

How Russians Are Erasing Life in Ukraine’s South - with Zarina Zabrisky

from Explaining Ukraine · host UkraineWorld

The Russian army is hunting people in Kherson, a major city in the southern part of Ukraine. It is estimated that 700 Russian drones attack Kherson region every day. Russian soldiers are targeting Ukrainian civilians, their cars, and their homes, as if they were on a safari. On the occupied lands of the Kherson region, on the left bank of the Dnipro River, the situation is even worse. There, the Russian army is implementing the tactics of a 'drone blockade.' People cannot leave their villages, they cannot buy food, and they cannot even bury their dead. The situation is catastrophic, and Russia is continuously breaking international humanitarian law. These people must be rescued urgently. You’re listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast. *** Explaining Ukraine is brought to you by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Zarina Zabrisky, an American journalist and writer who now lives in Kherson. She is the author of the documentary 'Kherson. Human Safari,' which explores Russia’s continuous tactics of exterminating the population of the city. You can find our previous conversation about this film here on this podcast: https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-384 Now, she is also working to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the Russian-occupied lands of the Kherson region. *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:03 What is the current catastrophic situation in Kherson and Kherson region, with continuous Russian drone attacks and violations of international humanitarian law? 04:54 How has the situation in Kherson deteriorated with constant drone attacks, and what does the term "human safari" imply? 06:34 What are the new and undetectable fiber optic drones being used by Russians, and how do they pose an increased threat? 09:59 How significantly have drone attacks intensified in the Kherson region, with alarming daily and hourly statistics? 13:01 What extreme safety measures do Kherson residents employ to navigate a city constantly under threat from drones, mines, and falling debris? 15:06 How does Kherson continue to function with public transportation, taxis, and even food delivery? 18:36 Are Russian forces deliberately using guided bombs and training drone pilots by targeting Ukrainian civilians in Kherson? 23:27 What is the "drone blockade" tactic implemented by Russians in the occupied territories of the Kherson region? 36:35 What are the unbearable living conditions in Russian-occupied towns and villages of the Kherson region, including lack of food, heating, medical care, and the tragic "burial crisis"? 40:14 What evacuation options are being considered for the people trapped in the occupied territories, and what are the challenges involved? 41:53 Why are Russians intentionally creating such horrific conditions in occupied territories, from using civilians as human shields to property seizure and ethnic cleansing? 46:16 What actions can the international community, including NGOs, governments, and individuals, take to address the genocide unfolding in occupied Kherson? 49:11 What gives Zarina Zabrisky hope amidst the difficult and horrific conditions she witnesses daily in Kherson?

The Russian army is hunting people in Kherson, a major city in the southern part of Ukraine. It is estimated that 700 Russian drones attack Kherson region every day. Russian soldiers are targeting Ukrainian civilians, their cars, and their homes, as if they were on a safari. On the occupied lands of the Kherson region, on the left bank of the Dnipro River, the situation is even worse. There, the Russian army is implementing the tactics of a 'drone blockade.' People cannot leave their villages, they cannot buy food, and they cannot even bury their dead. The situation is catastrophic, and Russia is continuously breaking international humanitarian law. These people must be rescued urgently. You’re listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast. *** Explaining Ukraine is brought to you by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Zarina Zabrisky, an American journalist and writer who now lives in Kherson. She is the author of the documentary 'Kherson. Human Safari,' which explores Russia’s continuous tactics of exterminating the population of the city. You can find our previous conversation about this film here on this podcast: https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-384 Now, she is also working to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the Russian-occupied lands of the Kherson region. *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected]. *** CONTENTS: 00:03 What is the current catastrophic situation in Kherson and Kherson region, with continuous Russian drone attacks and violations of international humanitarian law? 04:54 How has the situation in Kherson deteriorated with constant drone attacks, and what does the term "human safari" imply? 06:34 What are the new and undetectable fiber optic drones being used by Russians, and how do they pose an increased threat? 09:59 How significantly have drone attacks intensified in the Kherson region, with alarming daily and hourly statistics? 13:01 What extreme safety measures do Kherson residents employ to navigate a city constantly under threat from drones, mines, and falling debris? 15:06 How does Kherson continue to function with public transportation, taxis, and even food delivery? 18:36 Are Russian forces deliberately using guided bombs and training drone pilots by targeting Ukrainian civilians in Kherson? 23:27 What is the "drone blockade" tactic implemented by Russians in the occupied territories of the Kherson region? 36:35 What are the unbearable living conditions in Russian-occupied towns and villages of the Kherson region, including lack of food, heating, medical care, and the tragic "burial crisis"? 40:14 What evacuation options are being considered for the people trapped in the occupied territories, and what are the challenges involved? 41:53 Why are Russians intentionally creating such horrific conditions in occupied territories, from using civilians as human shields to property seizure and ethnic cleansing? 46:16 What actions can the international community, including NGOs, governments, and individuals, take to address the genocide unfolding in occupied Kherson? 49:11 What gives Zarina Zabrisky hope amidst the difficult and horrific conditions she witnesses daily in Kherson?

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How Russians Are Erasing Life in Ukraine’s South - with Zarina Zabrisky

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The Cleveland Ukraine Podcast The Cleveland Ukraine Podcast Capturing the impactful stories of the Cleveland Ukrainian population at home and abroad. Sikkerhedsudvalget 24syv Siden 1946 har den amerikanske præsident hver dag modtaget den såkaldte PDB ‘The President’s Daily Brief’ om de aktuelle trusler mod verdens og USAs sikkerhed. 24syv giver nu alle lyttere - politikere, beslutningstagere og embedsmænd - et dagligt sikkerhedsbrief. I programmet ‘Sikkehedsudvalget’ vurderes alle aktuelle trusler mod rigets sikkerhed. Vid alt om terrorisme, Ukraine, Mellemøsten, cybertrusler, kritisk infrastrutur - og mød landets mest vidende eksperter og beslutningstagere. The Fight: A podcast on life & war in Ukraine. The Cipher Brief The Cipher Brief team brings you a brand new podcast that examines the war in Ukraine, and the impact it has on the world. Ukraine - History in the Making Emil Juhler When I started the conversation series ”Ukraine - History in the Making” I could have never imagined where this journey would lead me. It all started in March 2023 after I got home from an exchange stay in Chile and felt, that I had to do more for Ukraine, than what I did on my social media accounts and on the streets in the spring and summer of 2022. I think most of us remember that initial period after Ruzzia’s the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Speaking from a European/Danish point of view it was a time of big fear, desperation and uncertainty, but also a time of high hopes, energy and big solidarity. In the very first conversation of the show with Veronika Netrebenko, she says the following about the feelings of Ukrainians during the Maidan Revolution: ”We understood we gotta fight for it, and it was something totally different, we felt different, we felt that we need to fight for it”. To a certain degree I believe you can say the same about what happened within the hearts and mi

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The Russian army is hunting people in Kherson, a major city in the southern part of Ukraine. It is estimated that 700 Russian drones attack Kherson region every day. Russian soldiers are targeting Ukrainian civilians, their cars, and their homes, as...

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