Ukrainian Drone Attack Sparks Blaze at Sochi Oil Depot Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, more than 120 firefighters battled a large fire at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi, believed to have been triggered by a Ukrainian drone strike, as reported by regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev on Telegram early Sunday. Located in the Krasnodar region along the Black Sea, the depot housed a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters (approximately 70,000 cubic feet), which was ablaze, according to reports from Russia's RIA news agency, citing emergency officials. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry claimed in its daily report that its air defense units intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones overnight. Of these, one was reportedly shot down over the Krasnodar region, while another 60 were destroyed over the waters of the Black Sea. However, the ministry's reports focus solely on the number of drones intercepted, not on how many drones Ukraine launched in total. To ensure air safety in the region, Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, temporarily halted flights at Sochi's airport. However, operations resumed around 0200 GMT on Sunday (10 PM ET Saturday). The drone attack on Sochi represents Ukraine's latest efforts to target key infrastructure within Russia that officials claim is essential to Moscow's military operations. Although attacks within Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, have been relatively rare since the onset of the war in February 2022, a woman was previously reported killed in a drone attack in the Adler district last month. The Krasnodar region is home to the Ilsky refinery near the city of Krasnodar, one of the largest refineries in southern Russia, and has frequently been targeted in Ukraine's drone offensives. On the same day, the governor of the Voronezh region in southern Russia reported four injuries resulting from another Ukrainian drone strike that caused several fires, highlighting the broader implications of the ongoing hostilities. In retaliation, Russia launched missile strikes on Kyiv, according to reports from the Ukrainian capital's military administration. The Russian military asserts that its units destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones over the Voronezh region which borders Ukraine, underscoring the continued volatility and confrontation between the two nations as the war drags on. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2