Ukraine sea drone strikes Russian port in Sochi, officials claim

A Ukrainian sea drone struck a port in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi on September 9, according to Russian officials. The attack reportedly caused a fire and damaged infrastructure, with eight people injured. Footage posted online showed a large, fiery blast near a beach promenade.

Regional authorities in Russia's Krasnodar Krai reported the attack, stating that a fire had broken out on a port embankment as a result of the strike by an unmanned surface vessel (USV). Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin urged residents to seek shelter and remain calm following the initial strike. Eyewitness footage depicted the aftermath of the reported naval drone strike. The USV strike also interrupted a concert by Russian singer Tatyana Bulanova being held near the attack site, with footage showing concert attendees being evacuated. The explosion occurred near the Chernomorskaya Zharovnya restaurant, partially destroying it.

The strike comes a week after Ukraine's last major attack against the seaside resort. Overnight on September 3, Ukraine's military launched several waves of attacks targeting Sochi. A Ukrainian sea drone reportedly struck and damaged a Russian naval vessel. Later in the early hours of September 4, footage posted on several Russian Telegram media channels appeared to show a fire at an oil depot near the city, which reignited days later.

Throughout the war, Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly battered each other's ports. On September 9, Ukrainian drones also struck the Black Sea town of Novorossiysk, targeting a naval base and oil export infrastructure.