Ukraine's General Staff responds to Russian claims of drone strike on civilian café
Photo: General Staff responded to Russia's claims about a strike on a café in Khorly (Getty Images)
The General Staff has responded to statements by Russian occupiers accusing Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on a café in Khorly, where civilians were allegedly celebrating the New Year. The military said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine comply with the norms of International Humanitarian Law, said the spokesperson of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dmytro Lykhovii.
According to him, information about strikes carried out by Ukraine’s Defense Forces on the night of January 1, 2026, was published on the official social media pages of the General Staff.
Lykhovii emphasized that the Defense Forces of Ukraine adhere to International Humanitarian Law and strike exclusively at military targets of the enemy, facilities of Russia’s fuel and energy complex, and other legitimate targets.
At the same time, the spokesperson drew attention to Russia’s systematic disinformation.
“Instead, Russian propagandists and the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation have repeatedly resorted to disinformation and fake statements, including in order to influence Ukraine’s international partners and the course of peace negotiations,” Lykhovii said.
Background
The Russian-installed head of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, claimed that Ukrainian forces allegedly struck a café and hotel with three drones, where, according to him, civilians were celebrating the New Year.
According to the occupation authorities, 24 people were killed as a result, including a child, and more than 50 others were injured. They also claimed that four children were among the wounded. Saldo reported the incident to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and promised to publish a list of the dead.
At the same time, several Telegram channels and journalists reported that Russian military personnel may have been present at the café. In particular, this was reported by investigative journalist Oleh Baturin.
