Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, stated, "The city of Sochi was attacked by a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Debris from the UAV fell onto an oil depot in the Adler district, causing a fire. 127 people and 35 pieces of fire equipment are currently deployed at the scene."

According to RIA Novosti, local emergency response officials reported that the Ukrainian drone strike set a 2,000 m3 oil tank ablaze. Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin confirmed no casualties were reported.

Videos and images circulating on X showed the oil depot in the Adler district engulfed in flames after the attack. Rosaviatsia, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, announced the temporary suspension of flights at Sochi Airport as a safety precaution.

OSINTtechnical, an X account specializing in military documentation with 1 million followers, suggested that the Ukrainian military used an AN-196 Liutyi UAV in the Sochi attack.

The AN-196 Liutyi is a suicide drone equipped with a 50-70 kg warhead and a maximum operating range of 2,000 km. Recent images suggest Ukraine has developed a launcher-deployed version, potentially extending the drone's range or payload capacity.

Kyiv has not commented on the incident.

Liutyi UAV en route to attack the Kupol plant in Russia on 1/7. Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

Ukraine has conducted several long-range strikes on Russian territory, targeting infrastructure Kyiv deems crucial to Moscow's military operations.

While Sochi is not a frequent target, a woman was killed in the Adler district last month following a Ukrainian drone attack.

Meanwhile, the Ilsky oil refinery near the regional capital of Krasnodar has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones since the beginning of the conflict. It is one of the largest oil refineries in southern Russia.

Alexander Gusev, governor of Voronezh, also reported on 3/8 that Russian air defenses intercepted 15 Ukrainian UAVs over the region. Falling debris caused several fires and injured a woman.

Conversely, Kyiv's military administration reported a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Pham Giang (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters)