Ukrainian attack on beach in Russia’s Kursk kills three, injures seven

A Ukrainian drone attack on a beach in the Russian city of Kursk killed three people, including a Russian serviceman engaged in rescue operations, and injured seven, acting Regional Governor Alexander Khinshtein said early on Wednesday (July 9, 2025).

Mr. Khinshtein, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the attack had been carried out deliberately in an area frequented by families in the region that borders Ukraine.

Five of the seven injured, including a 5-year-old child, were in a serious condition in hospital.

He said one of the dead was a member of Russia’s National Guard who had been trying to evacuate people from the scene.

“He had arrived at the beach with his comrades after people began reporting about the drone attack,” Mr. Khinshtein said. “The senior sergeant had begun to evacuate people when a second explosion occurred. Unfortunately, he did not survive.”

Reuters could not independently verify the account and there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.

Mr. Khinshtein also said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a hospital in the town of Rylsk, closer to the Ukrainian border than the city of Kursk, injuring two people, blowing out windows and setting a roof ablaze.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians in the course of the war, now well into its fourth year, something that both sides deny.

Ukrainian forces staged a large incursion into the Kursk region nearly a year ago. The Kremlin has said all Kyiv’s forces have since been ejected from the region, but Ukrainian officials say their troops are still carrying out operations there.