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 said happened in the village of Khorly on the Black Sea. Asked by the BBC for comment, Ukraine said it would not directly respond to sources of information such as claims from governors of occupied regions. However, it did say it adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and conducts strikes exclusively against military targets.
AFP news agency quoted a source in Ukraine's defence forces as confirming that while a strike did take place, the attack had targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians. According to Saldo, the alleged attack was carried out with three UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] which 'struck a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly'. The BBC has not been able to independently verify either these claims or the number of casualties.
Saldo said he had personally informed President Vladimir Putin of the attack. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was aware of the alleged attack and would 'verify the reported civilian harm and report on its findings in future reports'. Photographs published by Russian state media showed a badly damaged room with a collapsed roof, and one picture appeared to show a body covered in a sheet.
The Russian-installed authorities in Kherson did not specify where the attack took place but the images appear to point to a three-storey hotel and restaurant formerly known as 'Ukrainian House', now called 'Buganova's Cafe'. Images from the cafe's website confirm features consistent with those seen in the pictures released by Russian state media.
This incident adds to the ongoing tragedy in a region under significant strain, as Moscow continues to occupy over half of southern Kherson, which it 'annexed' in a disputed referendum in 2022. The alleged strike comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war are ongoing, with Ukrainian President Zelensky noting that an agreement with Russia, brokered by the US, was '90% ready'. Amidst these hostilities, both sides have continued to accuse each other of escalating tensions in the war-torn region.
AFP news agency quoted a source in Ukraine's defence forces as confirming that while a strike did take place, the attack had targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians. According to Saldo, the alleged attack was carried out with three UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] which 'struck a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly'. The BBC has not been able to independently verify either these claims or the number of casualties.
Saldo said he had personally informed President Vladimir Putin of the attack. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was aware of the alleged attack and would 'verify the reported civilian harm and report on its findings in future reports'. Photographs published by Russian state media showed a badly damaged room with a collapsed roof, and one picture appeared to show a body covered in a sheet.
The Russian-installed authorities in Kherson did not specify where the attack took place but the images appear to point to a three-storey hotel and restaurant formerly known as 'Ukrainian House', now called 'Buganova's Cafe'. Images from the cafe's website confirm features consistent with those seen in the pictures released by Russian state media.
This incident adds to the ongoing tragedy in a region under significant strain, as Moscow continues to occupy over half of southern Kherson, which it 'annexed' in a disputed referendum in 2022. The alleged strike comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war are ongoing, with Ukrainian President Zelensky noting that an agreement with Russia, brokered by the US, was '90% ready'. Amidst these hostilities, both sides have continued to accuse each other of escalating tensions in the war-torn region.
