Ukrainian Drone Attack Ignites Fire at Sochi Oil Depot
A Ukrainian drone attack has ignited a fire at an oil depot in Sochi, a city known for hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. The incident, reported early on Sunday, has prompted a substantial emergency response, with over 120 firefighters deployed to combat the blaze, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. The attack occurred in the Adler district of Sochi, where a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters (approximately 70,000 cubic feet) caught fire.
Emergency officials from the Russian news agency RIA reported that the fire is under control but ongoing efforts are needed to fully extinguish it. The Russian defense ministry stated in its daily morning report that its air defense units had destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one over the Krasnodar region and 60 over the Black Sea. However, the ministry does not disclose the total number of drones launched by Ukraine.
In response to the threat, Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, temporarily grounded flights at Sochi’s airport. By 02:00 GMT on Sunday (10 p.m. ET on Saturday), the agency announced that flights had resumed, ensuring air safety following the attack.
The drone assault on Sochi marks a continuation of Ukraine’s strategy to target Russian infrastructure deemed vital for military operations. This incident follows a previous Ukrainian drone attack in the Adler district that resulted in the death of a woman late last month. While Sochi has seen infrequent attacks since the onset of the conflict in February 2022, the Krasnodar region remains significant due to its proximity to the Ilsky refinery, one of the largest in southern Russia and a frequent target of such strikes.
In a related incident, the governor of the Voronezh region in southern Russia reported that four individuals sustained injuries from another Ukrainian drone strike that resulted in several fires. Meanwhile, Russian forces initiated a missile attack on Kyiv, as confirmed by the military administration of the Ukrainian capital. The Russian defense ministry claimed that its units destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones over the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine.
This series of attacks underscores the ongoing complexities of the conflict, as both sides continue to engage in aerial operations that impact civilian and military infrastructure. The situation remains fluid, with developments occurring rapidly on both fronts.
