War

A drone crashed into a crowded beach in southern Russia, killing seven people and injuring about 40 others, according to Russian officials. Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the civilian casualties.
The incident happened Monday in Arkhipo-Osipovka, a resort village near Gelendzhik in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Governor Veniamin Kondratyev and regional officials said seven people were killed in the incident, including three children. About 40 others were injured, of whom 17 were taken to hospitals in the region.
The governor said the casualties were caused by falling drone debris and accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians.
In video posted online, multiple bursts of gunfire from several weapons could be heard as the drone flew over the area. The drone then plunged into the beach after apparently overshooting a Russian radar installation just west of the impact site, according to CNN.
Andriy Kovalenko, who heads the Ukrainian government’s Center for Countering Disinformation, told CNN that Russian air defenses had shot down the drone over a beach filled with vacationers.
“The deaths of Russians on the beach in Gelendzhik are entirely the fault of the Russian air defense forces,” Kovalenko said. He denied that Ukraine had targeted civilians.