Merlin drone. Photo source: Video Come Back Alive / X video
An attack with Ukrainian drones caused a fire at a Soci oil depot, a tourist city in southwestern Russia, known for hosting 2014 Olympic Games, local authorities announced on Sunday, according to AFP.
Ukraine regularly attacks the infrastructure of oil and Russian gas in response to the attacks on its own territory from the beginning of the Russian major assault 2022.
“Soci was subjected to a drone attack by the Kiev regime this night,” said the governor of the Krasnodar region of Russia, Veniamin Kondratiev on Telegram.
The remains of a drone hit a tank of petroleum products, which caused a fire, he said. During the night, 127 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, according to the governor. The images broadcast by the Russian press showed a fire and thick clouds of black smoke.
Last Week, The Russian Government Banned Gasoline Exports to Curb Shortges and Record Prices. It didn't stop price gain.
And now ukraine is destroying the very refineries that make that gasoline.
Overnight, Sochi and Adler. pic.twitter.com/jut9ov4vzy
– Kyiv Insider (@kyivinsider) August 3, 2025
Air traffic was suspended at the airport in Sochi, but was resumed shortly, according to the Russian air transport regulatory authority, Rosavia.
The air attacks on the city of Soci, located over 500 km from the Ukrainian front, are relatively rare compared to other Russian cities. However, Ukrainian drone attacks killed two people there at the end of July, according to local authorities.
Ukraine has not yet commented on the fire that broke out on Saturday night towards Sunday. Kiev had warned that he would intensify his attacks against Russia in response to the multiplication of Russian attacks over his territory in recent weeks, who have killed dozens of civilians.
This week, US President Donald Trump gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a ten -day ultimatum, until next Friday, to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine. But the aerial attacks and battles have not diminished.
The Kremlin rejects the idea of a sustainable armistice in Ukraine, which he considers a gift for Kiev troops, despite Donald Trump's frustration towards this refusal.
