Drone Strike Sets Sochi Oil Depot on Fire in Russia-Ukraine War; Moscow Pledges Revenge

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a major fire at an oil depot close to the Russian resort city of Sochi, Moscow said. After the incident, flights were put on hold with immediate effect. The governor of the region, Veniamin Kondratyev, noted that the debris from the drone hit a fuel tank, resulting in huge flames. More than 120 firefighters had to be deployed to control the fire.

The drone attacks by Ukraine are a part of wider assaults on Russia, as several cities such as Penza, Ryazan, and Voronezh in Southern Russia were on Ukrainian targets over the weekend. Russian officials said four people were wounded in Voronezh in a drone strike by Ukraine, while Moscow said its forces disrupted 93 drones launched by Ukraine, and at least 60 were destroyed over the Black Sea.

Ukraine-Russia War: Both Sides Fire Drones at Each Other

Meanwhile, Ukraine reported a deadly Russian missile strike on the southern city of Mykolaiv, which left homes and civilian infrastructure damaged. At least seven civilians were injured, with three receiving hospital treatment. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia had launched 83 drones and missiles overnight—61 were intercepted, but others struck targets in eight different locations.

The strike comes just days after one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv, where more than 30 people were killed. Ukrainian officials said over 300 drones and eight cruise missiles were used in that assault alone.

Ukraine’s President Seeks Tougher Restrictions on Russia

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also condemned Russia’s actions and hinted at new economic measures. Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the world must come together to impose more severe sanctions on Russia.

In July, Trump warned President Putin to end the war within 50 days or face high tariffs. On Monday, he issued a revised deadline, setting it to expire on August 8.

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Hundreds of thousands of people have perished in the war on both sides with little chance of peace in near future. Russia claims it wants to “de-militarize” Ukraine while NATO blames Moscow for aggression and continues to support Kyiv. 

Also Read:  Ukranian Drones Target Russian Oil Facilities And military Airfields