Ukraine Denies Claims of New Year Drone Strike Killing 27 in Kherson

Fri Jan 02 2026 19:45:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Russia claims that a drone strike by Ukraine resulted in multiple casualties at a New Year celebration in occupied Kherson, an assertion met with denial from Kyiv. The incident raises questions amid ongoing conflicts and diplomatic negotiations.

Russia alleges that a New Year drone strike by Ukraine in Kherson killed at least 27 people, prompting Kyiv to deny the claims. Ukrainian officials assert that their operations target military sites exclusively. The incident comes as both sides navigate ongoing military tensions and attempts at diplomacy.

Russia has accused Ukraine of killing at least 27 people in a drone strike on a New Year's party in a hotel and cafe in the Russian-occupied southern Kherson region.

According to the Russia-installed regional governor, Vladimir Saldo, more than 30 people were injured in the alleged attack, which he claimed occurred in the village of Khorly on the Black Sea.

Asked by the BBC for comment, Ukraine stated that it would not respond directly to claims from officials in occupied regions. However, they emphasized their adherence to international humanitarian law, targeting only military sites.

Reporting by AFP indicates that while a strike occurred, it was aimed at a military gathering, which was not open to civilians.

Saldo alleged that the attack involved three drones that hit a cafe and hotel on the coast. The BBC has yet to verify these claims or the casualty figures independently.

Saldo also claimed he informed President Vladimir Putin about the attack.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine is aware of the allegations and plans to verify the reported civilian casualties.

Photographs from the Russian state media portray a severely damaged room in a building, with a roof collapse, and one image is reported to show a body covered by a sheet.

Although the exact location of the attack was not specified, photographic evidence suggests that the site was formerly known as "Ukrainian House" and is currently identified as "Buganova's Cafe."

Russia's Investigative Committee announced an investigation into the incident, while the Russian foreign ministry accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of attempting to intimidate the local population.

Moscow maintains control over a significant portion of the Kherson region, which it claims to have annexed through a disputed referendum in 2022.

This alleged incident unfolds amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, with Zelensky earlier stating that a peace agreement with Russia, facilitated by the US, is '90% ready.'

Recent days have also seen Russia accuse Ukraine of attacking one of Putin's residences, a claim Ukraine denies. Furthermore, Ukraine's intelligence service has warned of potential provocations by Russia intended to disrupt peace negotiations.