Russia Accuses Ukraine of Deadly Drone Strike in Occupied Kherson; Kyiv Denies Targeting Civilians

Russian officials have accused Ukraine of conducting a drone strike that killed 27 people and injured over 50 during New Year celebrations in the Russian-occupied village of Khorly, located in Ukraine's Kherson region.

Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed governor of the region, stated that three drones targeted a café and hotel where civilians had gathered, with one drone carrying an incendiary mixture that ignited a fire.

Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for Russia's Investigative Committee, reported that the attack resulted in 27 fatalities, including two minors, and that 31 individuals, among them five minors, were hospitalized with injuries.

Ukraine has denied targeting civilians. Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesman for Ukraine's General Staff, stated that Ukrainian forces "adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law" and "carry out strikes exclusively against Russian military targets, facilities of the Russian fuel and energy sector, and other lawful targets."

The incident has heightened tensions amid ongoing peace negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently indicated that a U.S.-brokered peace deal was "90 percent" complete, though territorial issues remain unresolved.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine is aware of the alleged attack and intends to verify the reported civilian harm, with findings to be included in future reports.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify the claims or the number of casualties.