Moscow says deadly Ukrainian drone strike in occupied Kherson kills 24

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy

Russian-installed officials in the occupied Kherson region reported on Thursday (Jan 1) that a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a coastal village overnight, resulting in at least 24 deaths and dozens of injuries. 

The strike, which allegedly occurred as residents celebrated the New Year, hit a café and a hotel in the Black Sea resort village of Khorly.

Vladimir Saldo, the Kremlin-appointed head of the region, stated via Telegram that three drones were involved in the assault, noting that one was equipped with an incendiary device.

According to Saldo, the resulting blaze was so intense that it hindered emergency responders from reaching victims in time. 

The reported casualties include at least one child, and officials warned that the death toll of 24, along with more than 50 injured, remains preliminary. Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a formal criminal probe into the incident.

While Saldo provided photos purportedly showing the aftermath of the strike, the claims have not been independently verified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not address the specific allegations in his Thursday address. Instead, he detailed a massive Russian offensive involving over 200 drones launched against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. 

These Russian strikes caused widespread blackouts, specifically cutting power to 100,000 people in the Volyn region and damaging port facilities in Odesa and Izmail.

The escalation in aerial attacks comes at a sensitive diplomatic juncture. U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively pushing for a resolution to the conflict, which has now lasted nearly four years. Despite initial notes of optimism following recent discussions between Trump and Zelenskiy, the Kremlin has since signaled a move toward a more rigid negotiating stance. 

Recent days have also seen Moscow accuse Kyiv of targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region—a claim the CIA has since dismissed as unfounded, according to reports.

On the Russian side of the border, authorities also reported drone debris falling near the Ilsky refinery in the Krasnodar region. The debris sparked a fire at the facility, which processes approximately 130,000 barrels of oil per day, though officials stated the fire was extinguished by morning. 

These tit-for-tat strikes on infrastructure continue to define the winter campaign, with both nations targeting energy assets as freezing temperatures settle over the region.