Russia Accuses Ukraine of Deadly New Year Drone Strike as Diplomacy Hangs by a Thread
On Thursday, Russia claimed that Kyiv was behind a deadly drone attack on a hotel in the Moscow-held part of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, killing at least 20 people celebrating the New Year.
The accusations come at a critical moment, just weeks after intensive diplomacy aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting his country was “10 per cent” away from a peace deal.
According to Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed governor of Kherson, “the enemy” launched three drones that struck a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly, targeting civilians who were celebrating the New Year. Kyiv has yet to comment on the allegations.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced it had opened a probe into the attack, which reportedly “killed more than 20 people and injured many more.” Images posted by Saldo on Telegram showed a building gutted by fire, piles of smouldering rubble, and charred bodies.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the incident, accusing Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist” attack on civilians.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said Russia was “carrying the war into the New Year,” firing more than 200 drones overnight, primarily targeting energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s power operator, Ukrenergo, reported that “a significant number of consumers” were left without electricity, while railway and port facilities also sustained damage.
New Talks on the Horizon
Ukraine faced mounting pressure throughout 2025, both from Russian bombardment and battlefield losses. AFP analysis based on Ukrainian air force data showed a slight decrease in Russian drone and missile attacks in December, with 5,134 drones fired—6 per cent fewer than the previous month—and an 18 per cent drop in missiles. However, Ukraine destroyed a smaller proportion of the total attacks in December—80 per cent compared with 82 per cent in November.
Former US President Donald Trump, who frequently positions himself as a peacemaker, has engaged with both sides in a bid to end the fighting. Kyiv, however, maintains that Russia has no genuine interest in peace and is deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts to seize more Ukrainian territory.
Earlier this week, Moscow accused Ukraine of attempting a drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim Kyiv dismissed as lacking “plausible” evidence. Western allies have also expressed scepticism, yet Russia announced on Thursday that it would provide the United States with “decrypted data” from the drone allegedly targeting the residence. “These materials will be transferred to the American side through established channels,” the Russian defence ministry stated.
Zelensky is scheduled to meet leaders of Kyiv’s allied countries next week in France, preceded by a meeting of security advisers on Saturday in Ukraine, signalling ongoing efforts to consolidate international support.
