Russian Officials Claim Ukrainian Drone Strike Kills 24 in Occupied Kherson During New Year's Eve Celebrations

Deadly Drone Strike Reported in Occupied Kherson

Russian officials have claimed that a Ukrainian drone strike on New Year's Eve resulted in the deaths of 24 people and wounded over 50 others in the Russian-occupied village of Khorly (also referred to as Hurli) in Ukraine's Kherson region. The alleged attack reportedly targeted a cafe and a hotel where civilians were celebrating the New Year. Ukrainian authorities have not yet issued a comment on these claims, and independent verification of the incident remains unavailable.

Details of the Alleged Attack

According to Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed governor of the Kherson region, three Ukrainian drones struck the coastal village of Khorly. Saldo stated that one of the drones carried an 'incendiary mixture,' which ignited a significant fire at the scene. He further alleged that many victims were 'burned alive' due to the blaze. Russian media reported that among the casualties were a child killed and six minors among the wounded. The attack reportedly occurred shortly before midnight on December 31, 2025, as New Year's celebrations were underway.

Russian Condemnation and Accusations

Following Saldo's initial statements, Russia's Foreign Ministry and other high-ranking officials swiftly condemned the incident, labeling it a 'terrorist attack' and a 'war crime' carried out by Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Western countries supporting Ukraine shared responsibility for the attack. Valentina Matviyenko, chair of Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, asserted that the strike 'strengthened' Russia's resolve to achieve its objectives in the ongoing conflict. Russian officials accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilian gatherings.

Lack of Independent Verification and Ukrainian Silence

As of the time of reporting, Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv have not commented on Russia's claims regarding the drone strike in Khorly. News agencies, including Reuters and The Associated Press, have stated that they could not independently verify the allegations made by Russian officials or the images released by Saldo's press service depicting the aftermath. The incident occurs amidst a broader context of ongoing drone warfare, with both Russia and Ukraine frequently accusing each other of launching attacks on civilian infrastructure and residential areas.