Drones strike elite Foros resort in occupied Crimea, Russia claims fatalities

His official statement appeared at 9:32 p.m. on September 21.

“As a result of the drone strike, several facilities on the territory of the Foros resort were damaged. A school building in the village was also damaged. Unfortunately, there are injured and dead. Currently, the number of injured is about 15, while the number of fatalities is being confirmed,” Aksyonov said.

He added that falling debris from the downed drone also sparked a dry grass fire near the city of Yalta.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reports two civilian deaths and 15 injuries. The attack reportedly occurred at 7:30 p.m.

What was happening at the resort at the time of the attack?

Foros is home to one of Crimea’s most expensive sanatoriums, once a retreat for the Soviet and Russian elite.

VChK-OGPU, an anonymous Russian milblogger Telegram channel, believed to be close to Russian security forces, noted that that evening the resort’s restaurant, Foros Hall, had been reserved for a private special event scheduled to last until 1 a.m.

The pro-Ukrainian outlet Crimean Wind mentions “very important guests” at the gathering.

“On the southern coast of Crimea, a strike hit one of Putin’s residences in Foros. According to available information, a private event was taking place there with senior intelligence officials and several Moscow guests connected to government-linked oligarchs. However, it’s important to note that this area was considered extremely secure in terms of air defense coverage,” adds the Russian opposition Telegram channel Valdai Refrigerator.

• Ukrainian FPV drones destroyed a rare Soviet-era RT-70 radio telescope in Crimea. Russia had repurposed the observatory for military use, including improving the GLONASS navigation system, and now only one RT-70 is left.