Kathmandu, Jan 2: Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly drone attack targeting civilians in the Kherson Region during New Year celebrations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said that armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck a café and a hotel in the village of Khorly in the early hours of January 1, where local residents were reportedly celebrating New Year’s Eve with their families. According to Russian officials, at least 24 people were killed, including a minor, while dozens more were injured. The final casualty figures are still being verified.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on terrorism charges, vowing to identify and prosecute all those allegedly involved in the attack.
The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a deliberate strike on civilians. It also accused Ukrainian leadership of contradicting its stated commitment to peace, citing recent public remarks by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The statement further alleged that Ukrainian forces have intensified drone attacks on Russian territory in recent days, including an attempted strike on a presidential residence in Russia’s Novgorod Region on December 29, 2025. Russian authorities claimed that technical data recovered from a downed drone would be shared with the United States through official channels.
According to the ministry, Russian air defense systems intercept multiple drone attacks daily, including attempts targeting Moscow.
The Foreign Ministry also criticized Western countries for continuing military and financial support to Ukraine, saying they bear responsibility for what it called attacks on civilians.
Russia called on international organizations and foreign governments to publicly condemn the incident and expressed condolences to the families of those killed, wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Ukraine has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. #Nepal
