Russia's Sochi port hit in fiery strike by Ukrainian sea drone, officials claim

On September 9, Ukrainian officials reported that a sea drone attack had struck the port city of Sochi, a popular Russian summer getaway located about 650-700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack caused a fire on a port embankment, resulting in infrastructure damage and eight reported injuries. Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin advised residents to seek shelter and remain calm following the initial strike.

Eyewitness footage from Sochi residents showed a large, fiery blast near a beach promenade. Additionally, monitoring channel Supernova+ posted videos of Sochi residents seeking shelter amid large explosions, believed to be the result of drone defense systems. The strike also disrupted a concert by Russian singer Tatyana Bulanova, who has previously supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Attendees were reportedly evacuated in a panicked manner.

The incident occurred a week after Ukraine launched its last major attack against Sochi, targeting a naval vessel and an oil depot. Flames at the oil depot had reignited multiple times since the initial attack. Both Ukraine and Russia have consistently targeted each other's ports throughout the conflict, with Ukraine striking Novorossiysk and Russia targeting Odesa and Black Sea shipping lanes. Russian forces aim to choke Kyiv's grain exports, while Ukraine focuses on cutting off Russia's grain supplies.