Eight people were injured and beach infrastructure was damaged in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi late on Wednesday when a Ukrainian sea drone struck a port, authorities said. The attack occurred near a restaurant, causing a large explosion.
The attack on Sochi, a key Russian resort town and a location of Putin's residence, highlights Ukraine's expanding reach with sea drones and its strategy of targeting Russian infrastructure and logistical hubs.
Eight people were injured and beach infrastructure was damaged in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi late on Wednesday when a Ukrainian sea drone struck a port, authorities in the surrounding Krasnodar region said.
Footage posted on social media showed a large, fiery blast near a beach promenade, with people heard screaming. The video was verified by Reuters. The attack occurred near the Chernomorskaya Zharovnya restaurant, partially destroying it.
While Ukraine frequently attacks Russia with air drones, including deep into the country, attacks using sea drones are less common. Sochi, a popular Black Sea resort, is also home to Russian President Vladimir Putin's official residence.
This incident follows previous Ukrainian attacks on Sochi. On September 3, Ukraine reportedly launched several waves of attacks targeting the city, including a strike on a naval vessel and a fire at an oil depot. On September 9, Ukrainian drones also struck the Black Sea town of Novorossiysk, targeting a naval base and oil export infrastructure.
Ukraine also reportedly launched a drone attack on Russia's Dagestan Republic overnight on Sept. 10, with videos showing fires burning in Makhachkala near the city's port.
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