MOSCOW: At least seven people, including four children, were killed after debris from a Ukrainian drone fell onto a crowded beach in southern Russia, local officials said, marking one of the deadliest drone-related incidents in the country in recent weeks.

The incident occurred on Monday in the Black Sea resort city of Gelendzhik, where the beach was filled with visitors at the time of the explosion.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, citing Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, four of the victims were children. Authorities also reported that 58 people were injured, many of whom remain hospitalized.

Drone Debris Strikes Crowded Beach

Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said the casualties occurred after debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fell onto the beach.

“When debris from a UAV fell, people on the beach were killed,” Kondratiev said, expressing his condolences to the victims’ families.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, where rescue teams treated the injured and secured the area.

Cause of Incident Under Investigation

Officials have not yet confirmed whether the drone was destroyed by Russian air defense systems before its debris struck the beach or whether it crashed after losing control.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Video Shows Final Moments

Analysis of video footage circulating online indicates that automatic gunfire can be heard moments before the explosion.

The footage suggests the drone changed direction shortly before impact, apparently veering sharply and diving toward the beach area. Reports indicate the drone appeared to overshoot a nearby Russian radar installation before crashing.

However, authorities have not officially confirmed the sequence of events shown in the videos.

Rising Drone Attacks

The incident comes amid a continued escalation in long-range drone attacks linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Both countries have increasingly relied on drones to strike military infrastructure and strategic targets far from the front lines.

The attack on the beach has raised concerns about civilian safety in areas that have largely remained popular tourist destinations despite the conflict.

Russian authorities have pledged a full investigation into the incident while emergency services continue assisting the injured and assessing the damage.