A drone attack on a crowded beach in southern Russia killed seven people, including three children, and injured 40 others, according to local authorities. The incident occurred near the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka on the Black Sea, a popular holiday destination for Russians.
Social media footage verified by the BBC shows a drone descending rapidly before exploding in a fireball on the beach. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of the Krasnodar region accused Ukraine of conducting a deliberate strike on civilians. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incident. Both nations have previously denied intentionally targeting civilians.
The specific target of the drone remains unclear. Some Ukrainian Telegram channels have suggested the drone may have crashed due to electronic warfare jamming its signal. Eyewitness accounts reported by Russian media indicated that gunfire preceded the explosion, suggesting that air defenses may have attempted to intercept the drone.
Tourists and residents told local media that no air raid sirens sounded before the attack. One holidaymaker described covering themselves with sun loungers during the chaos. Another recounted hearing gunfire like a machine gun followed by an explosion, while a third expressed distress over their child witnessing the event.