At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a drone strike in Russian-occupied Kherson region, ukrainian officials reported Thursday. Teh attack, which occurred during New Year’s celebrations in the village of khorly, has prompted a terrorism examination by Russian authorities and condemnation from the Kremlin. The incident underscores the continued violence in the region, a key focal point in the nearly two-year-long conflict, and the dangers faced by civilians.
At Least 20 Dead in Strike on Russian-Occupied Kherson Region, Officials Say
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a drone strike targeting a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine’s Kherson region on Thursday, according to local authorities appointed by Moscow. The attack, which occurred during New Year’s celebrations, highlights the continued fighting in the region and the vulnerability of civilian populations.
Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed head of the occupied territory, stated via Telegram that Ukrainian drones struck a café and hotel on the Black Sea coast in the village of Khorly. “Last night, the enemy launched a targeted attack with drones on the place where civilians were celebrating the New Year,” Saldo wrote. “Three drones attacked a café and a hotel on the Black Sea coast in Kherson. According to preliminary information, more than 50 people were injured, 24 people died.”
Saldo also shared images showing charred bodies and the wreckage of a building. He announced two days of mourning in the region.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced the opening of a criminal investigation into the incident, classifying it as an act of terrorism. “More than 20 people were killed in the attack and a large number of people were injured,” the committee said in a statement published on Telegram. The information could not be independently verified.
Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the accusations. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the strike as a “terrorist attack” against civilians celebrating the New Year.
The village of Khorly, located on a peninsula along the Black Sea, fell under Russian control early in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. Ukrainian forces recaptured much of the Kherson region, including the city of Kherson, during a counteroffensive in the autumn of 2022. Since then, the Dnipro River has served as the front line in the area, with frequent drone attacks reported by both sides. The development underscores the ongoing risks to civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
