Russia Accuses Ukraine of Deadly New Year Drone Strike in Kherson; 24 Reported Dead

Russian officials have accused the Ukrainian military of carrying out a "deliberate" drone strike on a civilian gathering in the Russian-controlled Kherson region during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The attack, which reportedly targeted a hotel and cafe in the coastal village of Khorly, resulted in at least 24 deaths, including a child, and left approximately 50 others injured.

According to Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of the region, three Ukrainian drones struck the site while civilians were seeing in the New Year. He claimed many victims were "burnt alive" as a fierce fire erupted in the building.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that among the 50 injured, six are minors currently receiving hospital treatment.

Moscow has labeled the incident a "terrorist attack" and a "war crime," asserting that the drones specifically targeted areas of high civilian density. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova further claimed that Western supporters of Ukraine share responsibility for the strike.

At the time of reporting, the Ukrainian military has not issued an official response to the allegations. Independent verification of the casualty figures and the circumstances of the strike by international news agencies remains pending.

Images released by regional press services show significant fire damage to a structure and evidence of casualties. Kherson remains one of the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia in 2022, a move that continues to be unrecognized by Kyiv and the international community.