Russia Accuses Ukraine of Killing 27 in New Year Attack in Occupied Kherson
Devastating Attack in Kherson
Russia has accused Ukraine of killing at least 27 people in a drone strike on a New Year's Eve party at a hotel and café in the occupied Kherson region. According to the regional governor installed by Russia, Vladimir Saldo, more than 30 people have been injured in the alleged attack, which reportedly took place in the village of Khorly, situated along the Black Sea coast.
When asked by the BBC about this incident, Ukraine stated that it would not respond directly to information sources, such as claims made by governors in occupied regions. However, Ukraine emphasized that it adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and conducts attacks solely against military targets.
The AFP news agency cited a source from Ukraine's defense forces confirming that while an attack did occur, it targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians. According to Saldo, the attack involved three UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that “struck a café and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly.” The BBC was unable to independently verify these claims or the reported casualty figures.
Saldo stated that he personally informed President Vladimir Putin about the attack. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has acknowledged awareness of the alleged attack, adding that it would “verify reported damages to civilians and inform about its findings in future reports.”
Images published by Russian state media revealed a severely damaged room with a collapsed roof. One picture appeared to show a body covered with a sheet. Authorities installed by Russia in Kherson did not specify where the attack took place, but the visibly damaged building in the photographs appears to be a three-story hotel and restaurant previously known as “Ukrainian House,” now referred to as “Buganova Café.”
Russia's Investigative Committee announced that it has opened an investigation into the attack, while the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of “intimidating the population of the regions united with Russia, which have forever tied their destiny to Russia through referendums.” Moscow occupies more than half of the southern Kherson region, which it “annexed” through a referendum in 2022, denounced as a farce by the Ukrainian government and its allies.
The alleged attack comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, with Zelensky stating in his New Year’s address that an agreement with Russia, mediated by the U.S., was “90% ready.” Last week, Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on one of Putin's residences, an allegation that Ukraine vehemently denied.
