# AI-equipped drone strikes on civilian targets in LPR are not operator errors, expert says

https://mins.news/en/item/40641

- TASS, 2026-09-01 16:11 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2180577

> Military expert Andrey Marochko said Ukrainian forces have recently increased strikes on cars, private homes and civilian infrastructure across the Lugansk People’s Republic, using AI-equipped drones more often. He said some drones can identify and attack targets autonomously after losing communication, and argued that operators are not making mistakes but mitigating risks to civilians.

## Related coverage

- [Who has the upper hand in Ukraine’s evolving drone war?](https://mins.news/en/video/42375) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-02
- [Zelenskyy warns airlines as Ukrainian drones target Russian airspace](https://mins.news/en/item/41009) — Al Jazeera, 2026-09-01
- [Ukraine war latest: Kyiv faces near-constant air raid alerts for fifth day as Russia intensifies jet-powered drone attacks](https://mins.news/en/item/39123) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-08-31