Russia blames Ukraine for New Year’s attack in occupied Kherson that kills 27

Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a drone strike at a New Year’s party at a hotel and cafe in the Russian-occupied southern region of Kherson that killed at least 27 people.

The attack wounded more than 30 people, according to the Russian-appointed regional governor Vladimir Saldo, who said the attack took place in the Black Sea village of Khorly.

Asked for comment by the BBC, Ukraine said it would not respond directly to sources such as claims by governors of occupied regions.

But it did say it adhered to the norms of international humanitarian law and targeted military targets exclusively.

Agence France-Presse quoted a source in the Ukrainian Defense Forces as saying that although an attack did occur, the target was a military gathering that was not open to civilians.

According to Sardo, the alleged attack was carried out by three drones and “attacked a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast of Hori”.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims or the number of casualties.

Sardo said he had personally informed President Vladimir Putin of the attack.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was aware of the attack, adding that it would “verify the reported civilian harm and report its findings in a future report”.

Photos released by Russian state media showed severe damage to the room and a collapsed roof. One photo appeared to show a body covered in sheets.

Russian authorities in Kherson did not specify where the attack took place, but the damaged building seen in the photos appeared to be a three-story hotel and restaurant formerly known as “Ukrainian House” and now known as “Cafe Buganova.”

Pictures on the cafe’s website show some similar features to those published by Russian state media.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had opened an investigation into the attack, while the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of “trying to intimidate the people of the reunited Russian regions who have forever tied their fate to Russia through a referendum”.

Moscow occupies more than half of the southern Kherson region and will “annex” the region through a 2022 referendum. The Ukrainian government and its allies denounced the poll as a sham.

The alleged attack came as diplomatic efforts to end the war continued, with Zelensky saying in his New Year’s address that a U.S.-brokered deal with Russia was “90 percent ready.”

Earlier this week, Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone strike on one of Putin’s residences, but Ukraine strenuously denied it.

Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service issued a statement on Friday accusing Russia of preparing large-scale “provocations” that would cause casualties as part of an ongoing campaign to undermine peace talks.