Footage emerges of a blazing oil refinery in Sochi - Footage allegedly depicts a flaming oil refinery in Sochi
Ukraine's Drone Strikes Continue to Impact Russian Territory
In a series of escalating tensions, Ukraine has been conducting drone attacks on Russian military and industrial facilities, with the latest incident reported in Sochi. While direct mention of a drone strike specifically on Sochi is scarce, the city lies within Krasnodar Krai, a region where Ukraine reportedly targeted the Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airbase using drones.
According to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), these drone attacks damaged Russia’s drone storage and launch sites, demonstrating Ukraine's capability to strike critical military infrastructure far inside Russian territory. Previous attacks in the region and beyond have included strikes on airbases, industrial targets, and facilities related to drone production.
The drone conflict between Ukraine and Russia is reciprocal and intense. Russia launched over 6,400 drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in July 2025 alone, many involving Iranian-origin Shahed drones rebranded by Russia as Gerans. These persistent attacks have targeted Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
In response to increased Russian attacks resulting in civilian casualties, the Ukrainian government has announced it will intensify air strikes on Russian territory. The most recent incident occurred in Sochi, where a fire at an oil depot was allegedly started when debris from a drone hit an oil tank. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Meanwhile, in the southern regions of Ukraine, local authorities reported injuries in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Three more people were injured in the northeastern border region of Kharkiv. To manage the fire at the oil depot in Sochi, 127 firefighters were deployed, and Rosaviatsiya, the aviation authority, temporarily halted flights over Sochi due to the fire.
Since the start of the large-scale Russian attack in February 2022, Ukraine has been regularly targeting Russian oil and gas facilities. Online videos showed flames and thick black smoke coming from the oil depot in Sochi, illustrating the impact of these operations on Russian logistics and fuel supplies.
Russian authorities claim a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at an oil depot near Sochi. However, Ukraine has not commented on the alleged attack. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting three Ukrainian drones in the region around the port city of St. Petersburg.
These ongoing drone attacks highlight the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with each side demonstrating their capability to strike critical infrastructure far from the front lines. The drone conflict continues to be a significant factor in the ongoing conflict, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
- The European Union, concerned about the escalating war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, has been closely monitoring the politics surrounding the general-news, including the continuous drone attacks in the region.
- Amidst the recurring crime-and-justice issues, such as the attribution of drone attacks, the European Union is calling for de-escalation in the conflict, focusing on the protection of civilians and the preservation of peaceful resolution efforts.
