A Ukrainian drone strike on a town in occupied southern Ukraine has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, with many more injured, according to authorities installed by the Kremlin. They accused Kyiv of intentionally attacking civilians during New Year’s Eve festivities.

Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the Kherson region appointed by Moscow, claimed that drones targeted a hotel and a restaurant in the Black Sea resort town of Khorly just after midnight on Thursday, igniting a fire while people were celebrating. He noted that a child was among the fatalities.

Saldo, who updated President Vladimir Putin on the tragic event, shared images of the attack’s aftermath, showing multiple bodies trapped under the debris of a burnt building.

The Moscow Times successfully identified the location of the photos as a restaurant named Cafe Ukrayinska Khata, situated next to Hotel Leo, which has reportedly been closed since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In response, Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal investigation into the drone strike, categorizing it as a potential act of terrorism.

On Friday, the Ukrainian military refuted claims of targeting civilians in Khorly, asserting that their operations comply with international humanitarian law and are focused solely on military objectives.

An anonymous source within Ukraine’s defense forces informed AFP that while the drone strike did occur early Thursday, it hit a gathering of military personnel that was not accessible to the public.