24 killed, 50 others injured in Ukrainian drone attack on Kherson region

MOSCOW, Jan. 01 (YPA) – At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a Ukrainian drone strike targeting a café and hotel in the coastal village of Khorly in Russian-held  Kherson region, according to Russian authorities.

Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed governor of the region, said that the attack occurred shortly before midnight and followed an initial reconnaissance phase, with multiple drones striking the venue and triggering fires as people gathered to mark the New Year.

Emergency crews responded overnight, and several of the wounded remain in serious condition, he added.

In a separate statement, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 168 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions of the country.

According to the ministry, 61 drones were shot down over the Bryansk region, 25 over Krasnodar, 23 over Tula, and 16 over Crimea. Air defenses also intercepted 12 drones over Moscow, nine of which were flying toward Moscow itself. An additional seven drones were downed over Kaluga, while 24 were intercepted over the waters of the Sea of Azov.

Meanwhile, Russia’s General Staff reported significant territorial gains over the past year. In a briefing submitted to President Vladimir Putin, the military said Russian forces had taken control of 6,460 square kilometers of territory and 334 towns during 2025.

@E.Y.M