Report Ukraine Drone Attack Sparks Sochi Fire

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A Ukrainian drone attack reportedly caused a massive fire to erupt at an oil depot near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi. KGovernor Veniamin Kondratyev of the Rasnodar region reported that debris struck a fuel tank, prompting 127 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The Sochi airport, host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, temporarily halted flights during the incident.

 

In a parallel escalation, Russia bombarded a crucial bridge in Ukraine’s Kherson region, resulting in one death. Nearby Mykolaiv sustained damage with seven injuries and numerous homes destroyed. Ukraine previously recorded seven fatalities in the Kherson and eastern Donetsk areas following Russian strikes.

 

Moscow pointed to multiple Ukrainian drone strikes over the weekend, targeting central Russian locations. The strikes targeted areas such as Ryazan, Penza, and the border near Voronezh, resulting in four injuries. Although Ukraine has not directly responded to the recent drone strikes, it frequently targets Russian energy facilities as a retaliation for attacks on its power grid.

 

Russia claims its air defences intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones, primarily over the Black Sea. Conversely, Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 83 drones or 76 drones and seven missiles, with 61 neutralised. Sixteen drones and six missiles hit eight separate locations, reported the BBC.

 

In the embattled city of Kherson, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin announced a partial evacuation after fresh strikes on the Ostrivsky bridge. The critical link, already weakened, connects the Korabel island district with the rest of Kherson, affecting 1,800 residents.

 

The recent Russian offensives follow a harrowing week for Ukrainian civilians, which included a deadly assault on Kyiv that claimed at least 31 lives. Over 300 drones and eight cruise missiles were reported in the attacks, escalating the death toll since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged for intensified international sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has condemned Russian actions and hinted at forthcoming sanctions. In July, Trump warned President Putin of severe tariffs on oil and other exports unless the conflict ceased, setting a deadline that he has periodically extended.

 

As the situation intensifies, both nations brace for further disruptions, while the international community monitors tensions closely.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-08-04