Russia and Ukraine accused each other of attacking civilians during New Year celebrations, as Moscow reported a deadly drone strike on a hotel in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine and Kyiv said Russia launched a large-scale assault on its energy infrastructure.
The allegations came amid intensive diplomatic efforts overseen by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the nearly four-year war, with both sides accusing the other of trying to sway Washington’s position.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched more than 200 attack drones overnight on New Year’s Day, targeting energy facilities in seven regions.
Writing on Telegram, he said the strikes underscored Ukraine’s urgent need for air defence systems and called on allies to deliver equipment agreed with the United States in late December.
Russia, meanwhile, said Ukrainian drones struck a hotel and café in Khorly, a coastal village in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, killing at least 24 people, including a child, and injuring about 50 others.
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of the region, described the incident as a deliberate attack on civilians celebrating the New Year and claimed some victims were burned alive.
Ukraine’s military said it targets only military and energy facilities and did not directly address Russian claims about the hotel strike. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of killing civilians through air attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the alleged attack was intended to divert attention from Ukraine’s military setbacks on the battlefield, accusing Kyiv of carrying out “terrorist acts.” Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said those responsible and their commanders should be targeted.
Earlier in the week, Moscow also accused Kyiv of attempting to strike a residence used by President Vladimir Putin, an allegation denied by Ukrainian and European officials. U.S. security officials were reported to have found no evidence that Ukraine targeted the residence.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the Kherson region attack or images released by Saldo’s office, which showed fire damage to a building and at least one body covered with a white sheet. Russia’s TASS news agency published footage of drone fragments bearing Ukrainian markings.
Ukrainian officials reported continued Russian attacks. Kherson region governor Oleksandr Prokudin said one man was killed and an 87-year-old woman injured in strikes on the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said rail infrastructure was hit in three regions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its strikes targeted military facilities and energy infrastructure it claimed supported Ukraine’s armed forces.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences shot down 35 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours, reporting no casualties or damage.
Kherson is one of four Ukrainian regions Moscow claimed to annex in 2022, a move rejected by Kyiv and most Western countries as illegal.
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