Drone Attack on Russian Beach Resort Injures 21

The incident occurred at the holiday village of Arkhipo-Osipovka, part of the wider Gelendzhik resort area in Russia's southern Krasnodar region. Verified social media footage showed the drone veering toward the beach before exploding, sending people fleeing. Russian officials said 21 people, including three children, were hospitalized, with nine in serious condition, and a medical disaster team was dispatched.

Tourists reported no sirens or warnings before the attack. Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar region, called it a deliberate attack by the Kyiv regime on civilians with no connection to military infrastructure. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of terrorism, though Russia frequently makes baseless accusations.

Kyiv has not claimed responsibility and has not provided an official response, but has reiterated it does not target civilians. Ukraine has recently stepped up long-range strikes deep into Russia, mainly targeting oil refineries and warehouses, aiming to make Russians feel the war's cost. One tourist said, We covered ourselves with sun loungers, and didn't see where it exploded.