Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine's occupied Kherson region have reported a deadly Ukrainian drone strike on New Year's Day, alleging it hit a coastal cafe and hotel, resulting in significant casualties.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed head of the occupied territory, stated that three drones struck buildings in the village of Khorly overnight on January 1, 2026. He claimed the attack occurred as people were celebrating the New Year, killing at least 24 individuals and injuring more than 50. Saldo reported that one of the drones carried an incendiary device, causing an intense fire that hampered rescue efforts. He noted the fatalities included a child and cautioned that the casualty figures were preliminary.
The claims, which have not been independently verified, were accompanied by photos Saldo posted on Telegram allegedly showing the aftermath. In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not comment on the specific incident in a statement on Thursday. Instead, he accused Russia of launching over 200 drones against Ukraine overnight, targeting energy infrastructure across multiple regions.
Escalating Strikes Amid Diplomatic Efforts
The reported assault comes during a period of intensified diplomatic activity, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a resolution to the nearly four-year-long conflict. Despite expressions of optimism from Trump and Zelenskiy regarding peace talks last weekend, the Kremlin has since indicated it would toughen its negotiating stance.
Meanwhile, the war of attrition continues. Russia's Investigative Committee announced it has opened a criminal investigation into the Kherson incident, according to the Interfax news agency. This follows a claim earlier in the week from Moscow that Ukraine targeted a residence of President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region—an allegation for which Russia provided no substantive evidence and which Kyiv firmly denied. The New York Times subsequently reported that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency determined Ukraine did not target any of Putin's residences.
Wider Context of Infrastructure Attacks
The conflict has increasingly focused on energy and civilian infrastructure. On Thursday, Ukraine reported that an attack on energy facilities in the western region of Volyn cut power to more than 100,000 people. President Zelenskiy stated that energy assets were also targeted in the Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that Russia struck the ports of Izmail and Odesa again, damaging equipment and infrastructure. Russia has maintained a campaign of regular strikes on energy targets, leaving thousands without electricity, water, and heating during freezing winter temperatures. In a reciprocal escalation, Kyiv stepped up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in December, reportedly hitting the most assets since the war began.
