New Year's Tragedy in Kherson: Who's Telling the Truth?

In the middle of New Year's celebrations, a drone strike hit a hotel and café in the village of Khorly, located in the southern Kherson region.

Russian Claims

• Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed regional governor, claimed:
• At least 27 people were killed
• Over 30 injured
• The attack was carried out by three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Targeted a civilian area

Ukraine's Response

• Acknowledged the strike but insisted:
• It was aimed at a military gathering, not civilians
• Strictly follows international humanitarian law
• Only targets military objectives
• Refused to respond directly to claims from occupied regions

International Reactions

• United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine:
• Aware of the alleged attack
• Working to verify reported civilian harm
• Russia's Investigative Committee:
• Opened an investigation into the incident
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry:
• Accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to intimidate populations of annexed regions

Background on Kherson Region

• Hotspot in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict
• Moscow occupies more than half of the region
• Annexed in 2022 through a widely condemned referendum

Diplomatic Tensions

• Zelensky mentioned in his New Year address:
• An agreement with Russia, brokered by the US, was nearly ready
• Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence (Ukraine denied)
• Ukraine's foreign intelligence service accused Russia of planning large-scale provocations to disrupt peace talks

Conclusion

• The truth behind the New Year's attack in Kherson remains unclear
• Both sides present different narratives
• Crucial to approach the situation with a critical eye and seek verified information