Key facts
- An oil depot in Sochi, Russia, reportedly reignited on September 7.
- The facility is owned by Russia's state energy company Rosneft.
- The reignition occurred three days after Ukrainian drone strikes targeted the area.
- Videos shared on social media appear to show the depot on fire with significant smoke.
- Authorities advised local residents to close windows due to the smoke.
- Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil infrastructure for months, leading to export restrictions and domestic supply shortages.
An oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi reportedly caught fire again on September 7, three days after being targeted by Ukrainian drones. Videos circulating on social media appear to show the Rosneft-owned facility ablaze, with authorities advising local residents to close their windows due to heavy smoke.
The incident follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on Sochi on September 3-4, which included a naval drone strike on a Russian vessel. The cause of the reignition was not immediately clear, and no air raid alerts were active in the region at the time.
Sochi, a popular resort city and home to Russian President Vladimir Putin's summer residence, is located hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine has been engaged in a sustained campaign against Russian oil infrastructure for months, leading to tightened domestic supplies and export restrictions.
Previously, two major Russian oil facilities, Lukoil's NORSI refinery and the Novatek-Ust-Luga complex, suspended operations after suffering damage from Ukrainian drone attacks in August and September.