Arkhipo Osipovka, Russia. At least seven people, including three children, were killed and more than 40 injured on Tuesday after a drone struck a crowded beach near the Black Sea resort of Gelendzhik, Russian authorities said.
Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said 21 of the injured people required hospital treatment. Russian officials blamed Ukraine for the attack, while Ukrainian authorities had not commented by Tuesday evening.
Strike and response
The strike occurred in Arkhipo Osipovka, a popular holiday destination in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
It was unclear whether the drone hit the beach directly or was brought down by Russian air defences before impact. Videos circulating online recorded sustained gunfire before an explosion, suggesting air defence units may have attempted to intercept the drone.
Russian allegations
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western allies of supporting terrorism following the incident.
“Not long ago, Nato and the EU declared a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. Now, they themselves have become part of international terrorist activity,” she told the state news agency Tass.
Nearby sites
Analysts said there was no evidence confirming that the beach was the intended target. The area is about 40 kilometres from a Russian naval base and near several other potential military sites.
Witnesses said no warning sirens were heard before the explosion.
“We were on the beach, we didn’t have time to leave,” one holidaymaker told local media.
Another witness said they heard “gunfire, like a machine gun” shortly before the blast.
