A Ukrainian drone strike has triggered a massive fire at an oil depot near the Russian resort city of Sochi, intensifying the ongoing cross-border hostilities between Kyiv and Moscow. Russian authorities said debris from a drone hit a fuel tank, causing a blaze that required over 120 firefighters to control. The nearby Sochi airport, a vital transport hub along the Black Sea, suspended all flights following the attack.
Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed the incident on Telegram, blaming Ukraine for the attack. This strike is part of a wider drone campaign reportedly launched by Ukraine over the weekend, targeting multiple Russian cities including Ryazan, Penza, and Voronezh. In Voronezh, four people were reportedly injured in one of the drone strikes.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its air defence systems intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, 60 of which were headed toward the Black Sea region. Conversely, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired at least 83 drones and missiles, with 61 intercepted. However, 16 drones and six missiles reportedly hit targets across eight regions in Ukraine.
The intensifying conflict comes amid a deadly period for Ukrainian civilians. A missile strike on the southern city of Mykolaiv injured at least seven people and destroyed residential buildings and infrastructure. Last week, a deadly missile barrage on Kyiv killed at least 31 people, making it one of the most devastating attacks on the capital since the war began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed calls for stronger international sanctions against Moscow. In the U.S., former President Donald Trump also condemned Russia’s escalation, suggesting that new sanctions were imminent. Trump had previously given Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline to end the war, threatening steep tariffs on Russian oil and exports. On Monday, Trump revised his ultimatum to a shorter 10-to-12 day window, now set to expire on August 8.
As both sides continue trading aerial attacks, the humanitarian toll and geopolitical tension show no signs of easing, raising international concern over further escalation.
