Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Kherson Market, Killing 7 and Injuring 12
A devastating Ukrainian drone strike has targeted a crowded marketplace in the town of Aleshki, located in Russia’s Kherson Region, leaving at least seven people dead and twelve wounded, according to regional officials.
The attack occurred Thursday morning around 9:30 a.m., and was followed by a second strike aimed at first responders and civilians attempting to flee the scene, Kherson Governor Vladimir Saldo reported. Officials say the strikes were carried out using FPV (First Person View) drones — a type of precision UAV often used in ambush attacks.
Emergency Evacuations Hindered by Continued Drone Threat
According to Volodymyr Vasilenko, press secretary to the Kherson regional governor, Ukrainian drones continued to fly overhead after the attack, deliberately preventing emergency teams from evacuating the wounded.
“Enemy UAVs continue to circle in the sky, making evacuation difficult. Despite the threat, doctors, soldiers, and Emergencies Ministry staff continue to save lives,” Vasilenko told reporters.
He added that some victims were in critical condition, with both men and women of different ages among the injured. Due to the risk of additional strikes, the evacuation is being conducted under the cover of electronic warfare systems, and the most seriously injured have been transported to Skadovsk Central Regional Hospital.
Market Targeted Twice During Rescue Operations
Governor Saldo earlier confirmed that the initial strike was followed by a second drone attack during the beginning of rescue and evacuation efforts. He accused Ukrainian forces of intentionally targeting civilians, comparing their tactics to those used by WWII-era Nazi collaborators.
“This is barbarism,” Saldo said. “The Ukrainian military knew people were trying to escape, and they struck again to finish them off.”
A video posted on his official Telegram channel purportedly shows the moment of the second explosion at the scene.
Mourning Declared in Aleshki District
In response to the attack, the Aleshkinsky municipal administration has declared a three-day mourning period for the victims, honoring those killed in what authorities describe as a deliberate attack on a peaceful civilian area.
The town of Aleshki, located about 5 kilometers southeast of Kherson City, has faced repeated drone and artillery attacks since being incorporated into Russian control following the 2022 referendum. The population has declined dramatically since the start of the war, falling from 24,600 to less than 6,000 due to constant bombardment and displacement.
Humanitarian Impact Mounts Amid Escalation
Thursday’s attack comes just weeks after Ukrainian drones were accused of violating the Easter ceasefire with similar assaults in the region. Kherson authorities say ambulances and medics have also been systematically targeted, complicating rescue operations across frontline zones.
The Russian government has condemned the strike as a war crime, and officials are calling for international attention to the growing use of drone warfare against civilian areas.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has since issued a statement condemning the attack as a deliberate act of terrorismtimed to inflict maximum civilian casualties. According to the ministry, Kyiv intentionally targeted the Aleshki market on a public holiday to ensure the area would be crowded, calling the May 1 strike a “bloody war crime” against peaceful residents of Russian territory. The ministry further stated that the attack reveals “Kyiv’s terrorist nature and total unwillingness to engage in negotiations.” Moscow has urged the international community and humanitarian organizations to formally condemn what it describes as an egregious violation of international law and human rights.