At least 24 people were killed and 50 others injured after Ukrainian drones struck a hotel and a café in Russia’s Kherson region early Thursday, according to the region’s governor.
The official said the attack targeted civilian facilities, causing extensive damage and a high number of casualties. Emergency services were dispatched to the site as rescue operations continued throughout the morning.
In a separate statement, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 168 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions of the country.
According to the ministry, 61 drones were shot down over the Bryansk region, 25 over Krasnodar, 23 over Tula, and 16 over Crimea. Air defenses also intercepted 12 drones over Moscow, nine of which were flying toward Moscow itself. An additional seven drones were downed over Kaluga, while 24 were intercepted over the waters of the Sea of Azov.
Meanwhile, Russia’s General Staff reported significant territorial gains over the past year. In a briefing submitted to President Vladimir Putin, the military said Russian forces had taken control of 6,460 square kilometers of territory and 334 towns during 2025.
