region. According to the Russia-installed regional governor, Vladimir Saldo, more than 30 people were injured in the alleged attack, which he said happened in the village of Khorly on the Black Sea. Asked by the BBC for comment, Ukraine said it would not directly respond to sources of information such as claims from governors of occupied regions. But it did say it adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and conducts strikes exclusively against military targets. AFP news agency quoted a source in Ukraine's defence forces as confirming that, while a strike did take place, the attack had targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians.

According to Saldo, the alleged attack was carried out with three UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) which "struck a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly". The BBC has not been able to independently verify either these claims or the number of casualties. Saldo said that he had personally informed President Vladimir Putin of the attack. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was aware of the alleged attack and added it would "verify the reported civilian harm and report on its findings in future reports". Photographs published by Russian state media showed a badly damaged room with a collapsed roof. One picture appeared to show a body covered in a sheet. The Russian-installed authorities in Kherson did not specify where the attack took place, but the damaged building seen in the photos appears to be a three-storey hotel and restaurant formerly known as "Ukrainian House", and now called "Buganova's Cafe". (BBC)