Seven people, including three children, were killed and 40 others injured when a Ukrainian drone struck a busy beach on Russia’s Black Sea coast, according to local authorities.
Video footage captured by the BBC shows the drone accelerating along a cliffside before crashing into a fireball on the beach, with on‑lookers frozen in disbelief.
The governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, confirmed the casualties and demanded that Ukraine be held accountable for targeting civilians, rumors that both sides had denied.
Eyewitness accounts described the sound of gunfire preceding the explosion, implying that Russian air defences might have engaged the drone or that electronic interference caused a loss of control.
The strike occurred near Arkhipo‑Osipovka, a popular holiday destination for Russians over the Black Sea’s warm climate and extensive beach infrastructure.
Residents reported no sirens before the drone attack, leaving the incident eerily quiet until the impact.
Other casualties include the ongoing trend of Ukrainian long‑range strikes on Russian commercial and military assets, raising concerns about increasing civilian harm on both sides of the conflict.
