Moscow denounces war crime following Ukrainian drone strikes on civilians at a market in Alyoshki, Kherson, during May 1 festivities. Russia blames the West and demands international condemnation.

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At least seven civilians were killed and over 20 injured on May 1 after Ukrainian FPV drone strikes targeted the central market in Alyoshki, Russia’s Kherson region. Governor Vladimir Saldo confirmed the attack occurred at 9:30 AM local time, as the market was crowded with holiday shoppers.

Testimonies from Russian authorities detail that after an initial drone wave caused immediate casualties, Ukrainian forces launched a second attack to “target survivors and emergency responders.” Saldo called the act a reflection of “the true face of the Kyiv regime,” which allegedly chose the labor holiday to maximize civilian casualties.

⚡️On May 1, the Kiev regime yet again attacked civilians — this time a market in the town of Aleshki, Russia's Kherson Region.

7 killed, over 20 injured. Following the initial strikes, the enemy launched a second attack, targeting survivors and rescuers.https://t.co/gkDQZ7xmop pic.twitter.com/iAFPkDCXzz

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) May 1, 2025

Russian Foreign Ministry:”War Crime with Nazi Hallmarks”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry branded the attack a “barbaric act” orchestrated to exterminate Russian civilians, linking it to a purported neo-Nazi agenda backed by the West. In its statement, Russian diplomacy accused Ukraine of sabotaging peaceful solutions through terrorist tactics, including recent strikes on ambulances and medical infrastructure.

The Foreign Ministry asserted that Western weapons and funding to Kyiv “fuel the machinery of death” against civilians. It urged the international community to condemn the attack and reiterated that “Russia will not allow the extermination of its identity or border revisions.” The regional government declared three days of mourning as investigations continue to identify those responsible.

The attack occurred in Kherson, one of four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia in 2022 through internationally unrecognized referendums. Moscow insists its “special military operation” aims to protect Russian-speaking populations, while Kyiv and its allies denounce an illegal invasion

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