Ukrainian Drone Strike Ignites Fire at Sochi Oil Depot

A Ukrainian drone attack has ignited a significant fire at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. The incident occurred early on Sunday and prompted a response from over 120 firefighters who are currently working to extinguish the blaze. The affected facility is located in the Krasnodar region, which lies along the Black Sea.

Emergency officials reported that a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters (approximately 70,000 cubic feet) is ablaze, highlighting the potential risks associated with such an attack. The Russian defense ministry stated that its air defense units intercepted and destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, which included one drone over the Krasnodar region and another 60 over the waters of the Black Sea. It is important to note that the ministry only provides data on the number of drones they have successfully intercepted, not those launched by Ukraine.

In an effort to ensure air safety, Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, temporarily suspended flights at Sochi’s airport. Flights resumed as of 02:00 GMT on Sunday (10 p.m. ET, Saturday), according to a statement on Telegram. Independent verification of these reports by Reuters has not been possible.

The drone attack targeted the Adler district of Sochi, a coastal resort city that hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. This latest incident marks a continuation of Ukraine’s strategy to strike infrastructure deemed vital to Russia’s military operations. Previous attacks have resulted in casualties; for instance, a woman was killed in a similar drone strike in the Adler district late last month.

The Krasnodar region is notable for housing the Ilsky refinery, one of the largest in southern Russia, which has frequently been targeted in Ukrainian drone operations.

In another incident on the same day, the governor of the Voronezh region in southern Russia reported that four individuals sustained injuries from a Ukrainian drone strike that led to several fires. Concurrently, Russian forces launched a missile strike on Kyiv, as confirmed by the military administration of the Ukrainian capital. The Russian defense ministry also reported the destruction of 18 Ukrainian drones over the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine.

As the conflict continues, the implications of these drone strikes reflect the ongoing tensions and military strategies employed by both nations since the invasion commenced in February 2022.