A deadly drone strike on a crowded beach near Russia’s Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik has killed seven people, including three children, and injured 40 others, according to regional authorities. The attack occurred in Arkhipo‑Osipovka, a popular holiday destination in the Krasnodar region, where tourists had gathered during peak summer season.
Russian officials accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians. Kyiv denied responsibility, instead blaming Russia’s own air‑defence systems, claiming the drone was intercepted improperly and crashed into the beach.
Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said 21 people were hospitalised, while others received treatment for burns, shrapnel wounds, and blast injuries. The incident is among the deadliest civilian strikes inside Russia since cross‑border drone attacks intensified during the ongoing war.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as beachgoers heard what sounded like automatic gunfire moments before the explosion — likely air‑defence attempts to shoot down the incoming drone. Video footage circulating online shows a drone flying toward the shoreline before crashing and triggering a large fireball, with tourists screaming and running for cover.
One witness said people had “no time to react” before the blast. Others reported seeing debris scattered across the sand and lifeguards rushing to pull injured swimmers from the water.
The Gelendzhik area holds strategic military importance, with a radar facility and the Novorossiysk naval base located nearby — a factor analysts say may have made the region a target.