A Ukrainian drone strike on New Year's Eve killed 24 people and wounded at least 50 others in a Russian-occupied village in southern Ukraine, according to officials installed by Moscow. The attack targeted revellers celebrating the arrival of the new year.
Details of the Khorly Attack
The strike hit a cafe and hotel in the Black Sea resort town of Khorly, located in Ukraine's Kherson region. Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed leader of the region, stated on Telegram that three drones carried out the attack. He claimed one of the unmanned aerial vehicles was equipped with an incendiary mixture, which started a significant fire at the scene.
Ukrainian authorities have not provided an immediate comment on the alleged strike. The Associated Press reported that it could not independently verify the details of the incident.
Russian Condemnation and Wider Tensions
The reported assault was met with strong condemnation from Russian officials. Valentina Matviyenko, the chair of Russia's Federation Council, asserted that the attack "strengthened" Russia's determination to swiftly achieve its military objectives in the ongoing invasion, now approaching its fourth year.
This incident follows accusations from Moscow earlier in the week that Ukraine launched long-range drones targeting one of President Vladimir Putin's official residences in north-western Russia. Kyiv has dismissed these claims as a deliberate falsehood. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had accessed navigation data from a downed drone to support its allegation, though it did not publicly share this evidence.
Peace Talks Continue Amidst Violence
Despite the spike in hostile rhetoric and accusations, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have reportedly intensified. In his New Year's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that a potential peace deal was "90% ready," but cautioned that the final 10% concerning critical issues like territory would be decisive.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, described a call with European and Ukrainian security advisers as "productive," focusing on advancing security guarantees and deconfliction mechanisms. Lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed plans for a meeting with European officials, while President Zelenskyy is scheduled for talks with European leaders next week.
With reporting by the Associated Press.
