Key Points: Russian officials say a Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and wounded at least 50 during New Year celebrations in Khorly, an occupied village in Kherson. Moscow also alleges a separate drone attack targeted one of President Putin’s residences; Kyiv denies the claim and independent verification is lacking. Diplomats report progress toward a peace deal—Zelenskyy says it is "90% ready"—while Ukraine warns that damage to power infrastructure has risked nuclear safety. Ukraine’s air defenses reportedly intercepted the majority of an overnight drone barrage.
Russia Says Drone Strike Kills 24 In Occupied Kherson Village Amid Ongoing Peace Talks
This image made from undated video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, shows a downed drone at an undisclosed location that it said was one of the Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin this week – a claim Kyiv has denied as a "lie". (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and wounded at least 50 more during New Year celebrations in Khorly, a village in Russia-occupied Kherson region, authorities reported Thursday. The claim comes as diplomatic momentum around peace talks has increased, though key allegations have not been independently verified.
Local Russian Authorities’ Account
Moscow-installed regional leader Vladimir Saldo said in a Telegram post that three drones struck a café and a hotel in the Black Sea resort town of Khorly, and that one drone reportedly carried an incendiary mixture that sparked a fire. Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to the claim. The Associated Press could not independently verify the reported strike.
Allegations Concerning Putin’s Residence
The report follows Moscow’s allegation that Ukraine launched a long-range drone attack against one of President Vladimir Putin’s official residences in northwestern Russia. Kyiv has denied the claim. Russia’s Defense Ministry said specialists had accessed the navigation system of a recovered drone and used its data to conclude the presidential residence was the drone’s final destination, but the ministry did not release supporting evidence. Officials said they would share the navigation data with U.S. authorities “through established channels.”
On Wednesday the Defense Ministry published a short nighttime video of a downed drone and a masked man in camouflage speaking beside it. The ministry provided no date or location for the footage, and independent verification was not possible.
Diplomatic Momentum And Peace Talks
Despite the claims and denials, diplomats report progress. In his New Year’s address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a peace agreement was “90% ready,” while warning that the remaining 10%—widely understood to involve territorial issues—will determine the outcome for Ukraine and Europe.
This image made from undated video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, shows a downed drone at an undisclosed location that it said was one of the Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin this week – a claim Kyiv has denied as a "lie". (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Steve Witkoff, who is described as a special envoy for former President Donald Trump, said he, Senator Marco Rubio and Trump adviser Jared Kushner held a “productive call” with the national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine to discuss next steps in a European peace process. Lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed that European and Ukrainian officials plan to meet on Saturday, and Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold talks with European leaders next week.
Concerns About Nuclear Safety And Infrastructure
Separately, Kyiv has pressed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to investigate what it says are Russian attacks on electricity infrastructure that are critical to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The IAEA published a Note Verbale from Kyiv reporting that a Dec. 23 drone and missile attack caused several Ukrainian nuclear power stations to lose a “significant part of their off-site power connections.”
Other Attacks And Air-Defense Response
Russian strikes were also reported in the Odesa region overnight, where regional head Oleh Kiper said multiple drone waves targeted civilian infrastructure. Kiper reported damage to a two-story residential building and to an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise; he said the struck apartment did not detonate and no casualties were reported.
Ukraine’s air force said in its daily report that air defenses downed or suppressed 176 of 205 drones that targeted the country overnight. The force recorded hits by 24 strike drones at 15 locations and said that the attack was ongoing when the report was issued.
Note: Several claims in this report—most notably casualty figures and assertions about the drone targeting of presidential residences—are attributed to Russian officials and have not been independently verified.
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