Russia has accused Ukraine of perpetrating a drone strike on a hotel located in the Moscow-held portion of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, an attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals celebrating the New Year. This accusation comes at a pivotal juncture, following weeks of diplomatic efforts aimed at brokering an end to the nearly four-year conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in remarks made recently, suggested that his country is “10 percent” away from finalizing a peace agreement.
The ongoing war, which began with Russia’s extensive offensive in 2022, has led to significant casualties, with tens of thousands killed, extensive devastation in eastern Ukraine, and millions displaced from their homes.
According to Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed governor of the Kherson region, Ukraine launched three drones that struck a cafe and hotel in Khorly, where civilians were gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Saldo shared images on Telegram depicting a building engulfed in flames, alongside piles of smoldering rubble and charred bodies.
As of now, Kyiv has not provided any comments regarding these allegations. The Russian Investigative Committee announced it had initiated an inquiry into the attack, which it stated had resulted in over 20 fatalities, with many more injuries reported. The Russian foreign ministry indicated that the death toll was still being confirmed.
Saldo reported that over 100 people were in attendance at the hotel during the strike. The Russian foreign ministry condemned the incident as a “terrorist attack,” urging international organizations to denounce it and warning Kyiv of “appropriate consequences.” They further stated that Ukrainian authorities were intentionally undermining efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war.
In the meantime, President Zelensky accused Russia of perpetuating the conflict “into the New Year,” revealing that over 200 drones had been launched overnight, mostly targeting energy facilities. According to Ukraine’s power operator, Ukrenergo, this resulted in power outages affecting a significant number of consumers, while railway and port infrastructure also endured damage.
In the Kharkiv region, a park housing a zoo was hit, resulting in injuries to one individual and endangering the animals, including lions that were wounded and several birds that were killed. The zoo’s owner, Oleksandr Feldman, provided details to Ukrainian media regarding the impact of the attack.
Despite ongoing tensions, the pursuit of renewed negotiations appears to be on the horizon. Ukraine has faced mounting pressure in 2025, coping with both relentless Russian bombardments and territorial losses on the battlefield.
An analysis by AFP, based on data from the Ukrainian air force, indicated a slight decrease in Russian drone and missile assaults in December. The report revealed that Russia launched at least 5,134 drones in its overnight offensives during December, which marks a 6% reduction compared to November. Conversely, the share of missiles and drones intercepted by Ukraine saw a decrease from 82% to 80%.
U.S. President Donald Trump has actively engaged in talks with both sides, advocating for a resolution to the fighting. However, Ukraine has asserted that Russia is uninterested in peace and is intentionally sabotaging diplomatic initiatives to expand its territorial control.
Additionally, Russia had accused Ukraine earlier in the week of attempting a drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim that Kyiv dismissed as lacking credibility. Nevertheless, Moscow stated that it would share “decrypted data” regarding the purported drone attack with the United States.
Looking to fortify international support, President Zelensky has scheduled a meeting with leaders from allied nations for next week in France, preceded by a gathering of security advisers from the coalition on Saturday in Ukraine.
