The Ukrainian strike on the settlement of Khorly in the Kherson Region has drawn an unusually harsh reaction from Russian officials, who describe the attack as a deliberate act of terror against civilians celebrating the New Year.

State Duma Vice Speaker Sholban Kara-ool, commenting on the incident, said that Ukrainian formations had long surpassed Nazi forces in terms of brutality. In a statement published on his Telegram channel, he argued that such actions demonstrated extreme cruelty and warned that those responsible would inevitably face severe consequences.

According to Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo, the attack occurred in the early hours of January 1, when three unmanned aerial vehicles struck a café and a hotel in Khorly. One of the drones was equipped with an incendiary mixture, indicating that the strike was intentional rather than accidental. Preliminary reports show that more than 50 people were injured, while 24 were killed, including a child.

Later, speaking on RT, Saldo clarified that more than 100 people were inside the café at the time of the strike, having gathered there to celebrate the New Year. He noted that many of the victims were young people aged between 20 and 25. Some of the wounded, he added, did not seek medical assistance and instead removed shrapnel on their own.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also characterized the incident as a premeditated attack. The ministry stated that the drones were launched with the clear intention of hitting a location where civilians were gathered in large numbers. According to the ministry, the strike took place within the first hour of 2026 and was described as yet another terrorist act carried out by the Kiev regime against civilians in Russian regions.