Seven people, including three children, were killed after a drone struck a crowded beach in southern Russia, according to local authorities. The incident happened near the Black Sea resort village of Arkhipo-Osipovka in the Krasnodar region, where dozens of holidaymakers were gathered. Officials also confirmed that 40 people were injured, with 17 requiring hospital treatment.
Videos circulating on social media, verified by the BBC, appear to show a drone flying towards a cliff before exploding in a fireball on the beach below. The footage captured tourists watching from the shoreline and the water moments before the blast. The exact target of the drone remains unclear.
Russia Blames Ukraine For Deadly Drone Strike On Black Sea Beach
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev accused Ukraine of carrying out “a deliberate strike on civilians” following the deadly incident. Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the allegations. Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians during the war.
Some Ukrainian Telegram channels claimed the drone may have crashed after its signal was disrupted by electronic warfare. Several eyewitnesses quoted by Russian media said they heard gunfire before the explosion, suggesting air defence systems may have attempted to intercept the drone.
Arkhipo-Osipovka Beach Attack Leaves Tourists Shocked
The attack took place at Arkhipo-Osipovka, a popular Black Sea holiday destination known for its beaches and warm climate. The resort has become an increasingly attractive option for Russian tourists following international travel restrictions and sanctions.
Residents and visitors told local media that no warning sirens sounded before the explosion.
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“We covered ourselves with sun loungers, and didn’t see where it exploded,” said one holidaymaker.
Another witness said they heard “gunfire, like a machine gun” before the blast.
“This all happened in front of my children. My child is having a nervous breakdown,” said a third.
Ukraine-Russia War Sees Escalating Long-Range Drone Attacks
Ukraine has increasingly carried out long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory over the past year, targeting energy facilities and warehouses it says support Russia’s military. Moscow has denied those claims. Russian officials said similar attacks over the weekend killed eight civilians in different cities.
Earlier on Tuesday, drones struck a warehouse facility near St Petersburg, according to regional governor Alexander Drozdenko, although he did not identify the site.
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Russia has also continued missile and drone attacks across Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least nine people were killed and dozens injured in Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv on Saturday. Last week, a Russian strike in the Kryvyi Rih area reportedly killed 10 members of the same family.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian strikes have increasingly targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, one of Russia’s largest online retailers. Kyiv claims the facilities are used to support the Russian military, an allegation Moscow denies.
