Ukrainian drones attacked strategic targets in Sochi during Putin's visit

24.07.2025 | War in Ukraine

Ukrainian drones have struck the area near Sochi, causing significant disruptions to air traffic and creating tension around the presidential presence.

Снимка от Jacek Halicki, Wikimedia Commons, под CC BY-SA 4.0

On Thursday evening, Ukrainian drones successfully penetrated deep into Russian territory, striking key locations in the Adler district of Sochi and the federal "Sirius" zone, known for its educational center. The incident location is extremely sensitive – just two kilometers from the second point of impact is the music school where President Vladimir Putin had delivered a public speech just hours earlier.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported a large-scale air operation, during which seven unmanned aircraft were shot down over the Krasnodar region. An additional 32 drones were destroyed over the Black and Azov Seas, demonstrating the scale of the Ukrainian attack.

The incident caused serious disruptions to air traffic. According to Rosaviatsiya data, Sochi airport was closed to flights between 23:08 and 3:05 in the morning. The consequences were dramatic – 59 departing and 38 incoming flights were canceled or delayed.