The death toll in Gelendzhik has risen following the crash of a drone shot down by Russian air defense forces

Six people, including three children, were killed when a drone exploded on a beach in the village of Arkhipo-Yosypivka near Gelendzhik. 

This was announced by Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of the Krasnodar Region. According to him, about 40 more people were injured, 17 of whom were hospitalized in Gelendzhik, the Tuapse District, and Goryachy Klyuch.

Footage posted online shows a drone falling onto the beach amid the sound of gunfire and exploding near vacationers. Analysts from the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) and OSINT expert Kirill Mikhailov suggest that the drone crashed as a result of actions by a Russian mobile fire team, as intense automatic gunfire can be heard in the background immediately before the drone’s crash. The drone itself, clearly hit, tips over onto its wing as it falls.

Arkhipo-Osipovka is located approximately 22 kilometers from the so-called “Putin Palace” near Gelendzhik. According to eyewitness reports in local social media groups, several drones were circling the area during the attack. Some users claimed that one of them crashed into a mountain after being intercepted, while another crashed onto the beach. It is also reported that no air raid siren was sounded.

Over the past week, SBU drones have struck five oil refineries, a military airfield, and an aircraft factory in Russia.