Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Strike Kills Dozens in Occupied Kherson Region
Russian officials have accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly drone attack in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, saying at least 24 people were killed and more than 50 wounded during New Year celebrations in a coastal village. The claim comes amid continued fighting between Moscow and Kyiv, even as diplomats point to limited progress in ongoing peace-related contacts.
According to Russian statements released on Thursday, the attack took place in the village of Khorly, a small resort settlement on the Black Sea coast. The region’s Moscow installed leader, Vladimir Saldo, said three drones struck a cafe and a nearby hotel where people had gathered to mark the arrival of the new year. Saldo alleged that one of the drones was carrying an incendiary mixture, which ignited a fire and contributed to the high number of casualties.
Saldo shared the account via Telegram, describing the incident as a deliberate strike on civilians. Russian emergency services were said to have been deployed to the scene, while local hospitals reportedly struggled to cope with the influx of injured people. Russian media outlets circulated images and video purporting to show damage to buildings and first responders working in the aftermath.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there has been no confirmation from neutral observers regarding the number of casualties or the exact circumstances of the incident. The village lies within territory controlled by Russian forces since the early stages of the war, making access for international journalists and monitors extremely limited.
Ukraine’s military did not directly comment on the specific allegations involving the cafe and hotel. In a general statement, Ukrainian officials reiterated that their forces target only military facilities, logistics hubs, and energy infrastructure linked to Russia’s war effort. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of spreading misinformation about civilian casualties while conducting its own strikes on Ukrainian cities and towns.
The Kherson region has remained a flashpoint in the conflict since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Although Ukrainian forces recaptured the regional capital of Kherson city in late 2022, large parts of the region east of the Dnipro River remain under Russian control. Both sides have regularly accused each other of shelling and drone attacks that endanger civilians.
The reported strike comes at a sensitive moment, as diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions have been described by some officials as cautiously constructive. Despite this, fighting has continued across multiple fronts, with drone warfare playing an increasingly central role. Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their use of unmanned aerial vehicles, which are relatively inexpensive and difficult to defend against.
International observers say the growing reliance on drones has blurred the lines between front lines and civilian areas, especially in occupied or contested territories. Allegations of attacks on civilian targets are likely to fuel further recriminations and complicate any efforts to build trust between the two sides.
As the war enters another year, incidents like the one reported in Khorly highlight the persistent human cost of the conflict. With independent verification scarce and narratives sharply divided, establishing the full truth behind such events remains challenging, even as calls for accountability and protection of civilians continue to mount.
