Moscow Accuses Kyiv of Using Drones to Kill 24 People on New Year's
Ukraine - Russia accused Ukraine on Thursday of launching a drone attack on the Kherson region during New Year's Eve, killing at least 24 people. Meanwhile, Kyiv reported that over 200 Russian drones attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The attacks occurred early on January 1, 2026, while the results of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict remain unclear. It is expected that both sides will hold their next meetings on Saturday and Tuesday.
In the Kherson region of Ukraine under Russian control, Moscow claimed that Kyiv used drones to attack a cafe and a hotel in the Black Sea coastal village of Holodnye during New Year's celebrations. Vladimir Sardov, the Moscow-appointed governor of the Kherson region, stated on Telegram that at least 24 people were killed and "dozens" were injured.
He also released several photos of burned corpses. The Russian foreign ministry accused Kyiv of "deliberately undermining any efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict" through drone attacks. Ukrainian authorities have not yet responded to these allegations.
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of "continuing the large-scale attacks launched in 2022 against Ukraine" at the start of the new year. He said that Moscow sent more than 200 drones on New Year's Eve targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Despite this, Zelenskyy reiterated in his daily speech that talks would continue in the coming days to advance the negotiation process. He said that Ukraine will hold talks with security advisors from its European allies in Kyiv on Saturday. Zelenskyy noted that a US delegation will participate via video conference and emphasized that representatives from 15 countries as well as the EU and NATO have confirmed their participation.
Subsequently, it is expected that Ukrainian military officials will hold talks on Monday to discuss the "security guarantees" that Ukraine's allies can provide to prevent Moscow from launching further attacks.
Mr. Zelenskyy said: "Politically, almost everything is ready, but it is important to carefully finalize how these security measures will work in the air, on land, and at sea if we successfully end the war." He also mentioned that a summit with Western leaders is still scheduled for Tuesday, but he did not reveal more details about the location of the meeting. He previously indicated that the summit might be held in France. In his New Year's address, Zelenskyy said that the agreement with Russia was "90% complete," but he warned that the remaining 10% would determine the "fate of peace."
President Putin of Russia urged his compatriots to believe in "victory" in his New Year's address.
Earlier this week, Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on the residence of Putin located between Moscow and St. Petersburg on Sunday night. Kyiv called this accusation a "lie" and considered it an excuse by Russia to justify further attacks on Kyiv and disrupt diplomatic negotiations.
The Kremlin warned on Tuesday that the "consequences" of this attack would lead to a "hardening of Russia's position in negotiations." This war, the bloodiest in Europe since World War II, has been ongoing for nearly four years, and bombing and fighting on the front lines continue.
According to an analysis by AFP of Ukrainian data, Russia carried out 54,592 nighttime attacks using long-range drones and 1,958 missiles against Ukraine throughout 2025.
These bombings mainly targeted Ukraine's natural gas and power infrastructure. As in previous winters, rolling blackouts were implemented nationwide to alleviate the electricity shortages caused by the attacks.
In retaliation, Kyiv attacked Russian oil storage facilities and refineries, attempting to cut off the hydrocarbon revenue used by the Kremlin for the war.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853163955182660/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.