Drone strike on crowded Russian beach kills seven, including children
A drone crashed into a crowded beach in southern Russia on Sunday, killing seven people, including three children, and injuring 40 others, local authorities said. The incident occurred near the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka on the Black Sea, a popular holiday destination for Russians.
Footage verified by the BBC shows the drone hurtling toward a cliffside before exploding in a fireball on the beach below, as tourists watched from the shore and in the water. The Krasnodar region governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, said 17 of the injured were hospitalised.
Governor Kondratyev accused Ukraine of carrying out a deliberate attack on civilians. Ukraine has not commented on the incident. Both sides in the conflict have consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians.
It remains unclear what the drone was aiming for. Some Ukrainian Telegram channels have suggested that the drone crashed onto the beach after being jammed by electronic warfare. Several eyewitnesses quoted in Russian media said gunfire was heard before the explosion, indicating that air defence systems may have attempted to shoot it down.
Tourists and residents of Arkhipo-Osipovka told local media that no air raid sirens sounded before the drone hit. One holidaymaker said, "We covered ourselves with sun loungers, and didn't see where it exploded." Another person said they heard "gunfire, like a machine gun" followed by an explosion. A third eyewitness said, "This all happened in front of my children. My child is having a nervous breakdown."
The beach is part of the Krasnodar region, which lies across the Kerch Strait from Crimea and has been frequently targeted in the conflict. The area is home to several Russian military installations, and Ukrainian forces have struck fuel depots and other infrastructure there in the past.
Russia's defence ministry said its forces shot down 15 Ukrainian drones over the region overnight, but did not immediately confirm the beach incident. Ukraine has not acknowledged any attack on the beach, and its military typically does not comment on individual strikes.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by civilians in the ongoing war, even far from the front lines. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of indiscriminate attacks, and international organisations have documented civilian casualties on both sides.
The Russian Investigative Committee said it has opened a criminal case into the incident, describing it as a terrorist act. No further details were immediately available.
The Black Sea resort area has remained a popular destination for Russian tourists, particularly because international travel is restricted for many Russians due to sanctions. Sunday's attack is likely to raise concerns about safety in the region, which has so far been spared the worst of the fighting.
