One woman was killed and another seriously injured in a drone attack on Sochi and its vicinity overnight. The attack also struck an oil depot in the Sirius area, causing the Sochi airport to temporarily suspend operations before resuming by morning.
In Sochi, a drone attack resulted in the death of one woman and severe injuries to another. Both victims were outdoors during the assault, as reported by the operational headquarters. A fire erupted in a garage cooperative on Aviatsionnaya Street. Residents in Adler reported hearing over ten explosions, believed to be the sound of air defense systems. Media outlets indicated that tourists in some Sochi hotels were evacuated to underground parking lots. Flight restrictions were imposed at Sochi Airport but were lifted by morning. However, images show long queues at check-in counters due to schedule disruptions.
On the federal territory of Sirius, located near Sochi, an oil depot on Tavricheskaya Street was hit, according to Dmitry Plishkin, head of the administration. Media reports indicate this is the Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt oil depot. Eyewitnesses shared footage showing a powerful explosion and thick smoke over the facility. The Sirius territory also hosts an educational center of the same name. Alexander Yershov, editor of the Krasnodar branch of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, described the area as highly compact, with all facilities situated in close proximity:
This past night`s drone attack on the Krasnodar Krai was perhaps one of the most massive in the past three years. It appears most strikes targeted Sochi directly. The evening before, a drone threat was announced, leading to the two-hour closure of the Crimean Bridge for vehicle traffic. Drone alerts were also issued in Novorossiysk and Anapa, followed by the federal territory of Sirius and Sochi. Based on available information, the Adler district of Sochi and the adjacent federal territory of Sirius experienced a particularly severe impact. Sochi International Airport was closed for over two hours for both arrivals and departures, while the Crimean Bridge has since reopened.
Q: Are the oil depot and Sirius located close to each other?
A: The oil depot is situated within the Sirius territory. The entire area is compact, not far from the large Ice Palace.
Q: There were reports of tourists being evacuated to underground parking lots; was that true?
A: Such reports did surface, primarily in local Telegram channels. The `Sochi Emergency` Telegram channel published footage of tourists evacuated to a hotel`s parking lot, showing children calmly waiting among cars to return to their rooms, with no signs of panic.
Q: So, this wasn`t in all hotels, but specific ones?
A: Let`s refrain from naming them at this time, as we need to be precise.
Q: Is Aviatsionnaya Street in the city center?
A: It`s in the Adler district, somewhat close to Sirius. The entire area is small and densely populated. The airport is also located nearby, close to both Sirius and Aviatsionnaya Street – it`s all within a small, confined space.
Alexander Yershov, editor of the Krasnodar branch of Rossiyskaya Gazeta
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 39 UAVs were intercepted over the Krasnodar Krai and the Black and Azov Sea areas during the night.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported a massive attack by Russian drones overnight. It is stated that the famous `Privoz` market in Odesa caught fire, and apartment buildings in the city center sustained damage. Six people were injured in Cherkasy, and several fires broke out in Mykolaiv.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth