At least seven people, including three children, were killed after a drone struck a crowded beach in the Russian resort city of Gelendzhik on Monday, according to officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region. The incident also left 40 people injured, making it one of the deadliest events linked to the conflict in recent weeks.

Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fell onto the beach, killing those gathered there. Authorities said 21 of the injured were taken to the hospital, while another 19 received medical treatment. Kondratiev also offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Officials have not confirmed exactly what caused the drone to hit the beach. It remains unclear whether Russian air defence systems shot down the drone, causing debris to fall, or whether the drone crashed before reaching its intended target.

Video reviewed by CNN captured automatic gunfire moments before the explosion. According to the analysis, the drone changed direction shortly before it struck the beach. The footage suggests the drone may have passed a nearby Russian radar installation before crashing.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the incident. However, Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, blamed Russia’s air defence forces for the deaths. He claimed Russian authorities failed to protect civilians and argued that Ukraine targets only military and economic sites linked to Russia’s war effort. Russian officials have not responded to those claims.

The Krasnodar region has faced repeated Ukrainian drone attacks during the war. The area is home to key military and naval facilities, including the Novorossiysk Naval Base, the main base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The region also contains important energy and industrial infrastructure that Ukraine has targeted in recent months.

The beach attack comes during a period of intensified cross-border strikes. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Ukrainian drone attacks and shelling killed at least 61 people and injured 327 others between July 24 and July 31. Earlier in July, another wave of Ukrainian drone attacks reportedly killed at least eight people inside Russia.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to take a heavy toll inside Ukraine. According to reported figures, Russian attacks killed at least 377 civilians and injured more than 2,100 others during the same month, making it the deadliest month for civilians since April 2022.