Medvedev Condemns Ukrainian Forces' New Year's Eve Massacre: 24 Burned Alive, Retaliation Is a Must

As reported by Russia’s RT, when the New Year’s bell tolled for 2026, a festive New Year’s Eve gathering in the town of Khorly, Kherson Oblast under Russian control, turned into a blood-soaked nightmare. On Thursday, Dmitry Medvedev, Vice Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, issued a scathing statement, vowing retaliation for this "brutal and cynical" attack targeting civilians.

Dmitry Medvedev, Vice Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation

According to Vladimir Saldo, Governor of the Kherson Region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched three drones, targeting a café and hotel along the Black Sea coast where New Year’s celebrations were underway. One of the drones was loaded with a highly destructive incendiary mixture, which instantly engulfed the scene in flames.

The attack has left at least 24 people dead (including one child) and 29 others injured (among whom are 6 minors). Fueled by the intense blaze, many civilians were burned alive while they were either asleep or celebrating. The fire was not fully extinguished until the early hours of Thursday.

Medvedev used extremely tough rhetoric on social media to condemn the attack. He stated that "ordinary words are not enough to describe the actions of these scoundrels" and likened the perpetrators to the notorious Nazi collaborators. He emphasized that Russia’s retaliation will be "inevitable and swift," targeting not only the frontline perpetrators but also the "commanders at all levels" behind the scenes.

Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also condemned the attack, stating that the Kiev regime has revealed its "barbaric nature" and accusing Western funding of fueling this "killing machine" that preys on civilians.

Russian authorities pointed out that this is not the first time Ukrainian forces have launched targeted strikes against civilian facilities. Recently, residential buildings, shopping malls and recreational areas in Russia’s border regions have been frequently harassed by drones and missiles. The timing and brutality of this "Khorly Massacre" are regarded by Russia as the pinnacle of provocation, which may signal that the Russian military will launch larger-scale military operations in Kherson and other battlefronts in response.