The strike occurred near the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. The regional governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, called it a “deliberate attack on civilians.” Seventeen of the injured were taken to hospitals.
Footage verified by the BBC and shared on social media shows the drone hurtling toward a cliff and then bursting into flames on the beach. Tourists watched from the shore and from the water. Several eyewitnesses told Russian media they heard gunfire before the explosion, suggesting air defense tried to shoot the drone down.
Ukraine has not yet commented on the incident. Some Ukrainian Telegram channels claim the drone veered off course due to electronic warfare and crashed. The area around Arkhipo-Osipovka is a popular holiday destination for Russians because of its warm climate and long sandy beaches, especially since international travel has become harder due to sanctions.
In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, mainly targeting energy facilities and warehouses that Kyiv says are used for military purposes. Russia has been shelling Ukrainian cities and residential areas since it launched its war of aggression in February 2022. Just on Saturday, at least nine people were killed in Russian missile strikes on Kyiv.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
