A deadly Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Sochi killed two women and injured 11 others, sparking Russian accusations of deliberate attacks on civilians. Over 39 drones were intercepted overnight, amid growing concerns about escalating cross-border assaults and the targeting of non-combatants in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In the early hours of Thursday, July 24, a mass drone attack struck Sochi, a prominent resort city in southern Russia, killing two women and injuring 11 others. The attack, which the Russian government attributes to Ukraine, marks one of the deadliest assaults in the Krasnodar Krai region since the onset of intensified drone warfare between the two nations.
According to the Krasnodar Krai operational headquarters, the incident occurred in Sochi’s Adler district when the wreckage of a downed drone crashed onto a populated area. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed via Telegram that two women were fatally wounded while nearby during the crash. The impact also damaged the premises of a local oil depot, leading to further injuries and potential infrastructure risks.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that from 8:40 p.m. on July 23 to 1:40 a.m. on July 24 (Moscow time), Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 39 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. Seven of these were downed over Krasnodar Krai alone, underscoring the intensity of the onslaught.
“This was a calculated and large-scale drone operation,” the Defence Ministry noted. The attack is one of the latest in a series of escalations across Russia’s western and southern territories.
Russia has responded with strong condemnation, accusing Ukraine of orchestrating deliberate attacks aimed at civilians. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, outlined a string of incidents across the past week that have reportedly killed seven and injured more than 120 people—including 11 minors—through drone and artillery assaults.
She cited multiple examples:
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On July 16, a woman was killed when a drone struck a private residence in the village of Smorodino.
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A combine harvester driver was injured in Novostroevka-Pervaya after a UAV targeted agricultural machinery.
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In Pritsepilovka and Novaya Tavolzhanka, three individuals were injured in separate drone attacks.
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Between July 17 and 22, five civilian cars were attacked, resulting in one fatality and six injuries.
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On July 20, two were injured in Shebekino during combined shelling and drone assaults.
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On July 22, an entire home was destroyed in Ilek-Penkovka, leaving a woman and two teenagers wounded.
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That same day, a private bus was hit in another drone strike, killing three civilians and injuring three more.
Zakharova emphasized the nature of the attacks, describing them as “targeted terrorist actions” against unarmed civilians, rather than military targets.
“These are not strikes against the armed forces, nor are they attacks on military personnel or actions against military equipment—these are targeted terrorist attacks on civilians,” she said.
She went on to accuse Ukrainian forces of attacking schoolchildren and preschoolers and criticized Ukraine’s Western allies for what she claims is an irresponsible supply of weapons that has escalated civilian targeting.
The Kremlin has increasingly sought to rally domestic and international support by portraying Ukrainian drone campaigns as acts of terrorism. Western observers, however, argue that the fog of war and lack of independent verification make it difficult to assess the exact nature and intent behind such strikes.
Sochi, better known as a summer retreat and host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, has generally remained distant from the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, Thursday’s attack signals a troubling extension of the war’s reach into previously unaffected civilian regions.
With both sides accusing the other of war crimes and using civilians as leverage in a broader geopolitical struggle, the international community is likely to face renewed pressure to intervene diplomatically or via humanitarian channels.
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As of now, Russian authorities continue damage assessments in Sochi and other affected areas while reinforcing air defence systems amid ongoing tensions. The situation remains fluid as retaliatory actions or further escalations may follow in the days to come.
