At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 injured when three Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and a hotel in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, where New Year celebrations were underway. "Tonight, the enemy launched a targeted drone strike on a site where civilians were celebrating the New Year. ADVERTISEMENTIn a Telegram post, Saldo described the attack as a “deliberate strike” and blamed Ukraine for the fatalities. Kherson is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed in 2022—a move widely condemned by Kyiv and Western nations as illegal. In response to drone threats during the New Year celebrations, Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 168 Ukrainian UAVs over several regions.

Source: The Telegraph January 01, 2026 09:05 UTC