Ukrainian Strikes Claim 24 Lives in Kherson Resort Amid New Year’s Celebrations, Authorities Report

At least 24 individuals lost their lives, and many more were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike targeting a town in the south of Ukraine, which is under occupation. Authorities appointed by the Kremlin stated early Thursday that Kyiv intentionally aimed at civilians who were celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Vladimir Saldo, the governor installed by Moscow in the occupied Kherson region, reported that drones hit a hotel and a restaurant in the Black Sea resort area of Khorly during the night, igniting a fire while people gathered for festivities.

Saldo did not specify which hotel and restaurant were targeted, but confirmed that a child was among those who died. He later shared images from the site of the attack, showing multiple bodies trapped under the debris of the burnt structure.

The Moscow Times managed to pinpoint the location of the images to a place called Cafe Ukrayinska Khata, adjacent to Hotel Leo.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal investigation into the lethal attack on Khorly, categorizing it as a terrorist act.

There was no immediate response from Ukraine regarding the incident.

In a separate report from Russia, Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that air defense systems intercepted nine Ukrainian drones heading towards the capital.

Additional reports from other regions, including the southern Krasnodar territory, indicated minor damage from the drone strikes. Several airports implemented temporary flight restrictions due to the barrage of attacks.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down a total of 168 Ukrainian drones across the country and over the Azov Sea during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

In Ukraine, military officials reported that Russia launched 205 drones against the country overnight, with regional authorities noting damage to energy infrastructure.