This is the dramatic moment when two Ukrainian kamikaze drones were shot down, targeting the resort of Sochi, where Vladimir Putin’s official Black Sea resort is located.
Russian air defenses had to be deployed leading to large explosions offshore in the Krasnodar region.
The airport was closed and locals reported a series of half a dozen explosions with lights out in several homes.
Putin, 71, often rules Russia from Sochi and his girlfriend Alina Kabaeva, 40, a gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast, is a frequent resident of the city and was here this week.
City authorities said there were no casualties from today’s drone strike.
This is the dramatic moment two Ukrainian kamikaze drones were targeted in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi.
President Vladimir Putin often rules Russia from Sochi, his official Black Sea resort
Putin’s girlfriend Alina Kabaeva, 40, a gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast, often lives in the city and was here this week.
Footage captured one of the failed drones shooting across the sky before it was shot down
The Russian Defense Ministry said: “At around 7:10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian military thwarted another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack on Russian facilities using drones.
“Two unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed by Russian air defense forces on duty over the waters of the Black Sea near the coast of the Krasnodar region.”
The attack comes after a week that saw two Russian warships damaged in Krasnodar in an attack by Ukrainian-made underwater drones.
Kyiv also claims to have shot down two Russian Su-25 fighter jets.
Sochi Mayor Alexey Kopaigorodsky said on his Telegram channel. “The airport and all systems of the tourist town are (now) working normally.
“The situation is under the control of the operational headquarters, thanks to all our defense forces.
“There is no threat to the lives and health of residents and tourists, everything is calm in the resort.”
Putin’s official residence, Bocharov Ruchey is in the city.
Explosions were reported in the neighborhood near the house.
He also has a £1 billion mansion on a cliff in Gelendzhik, in the same Krasnodar region.
Putin this week flew abroad for the first time since an International Criminal Court arrest warrant was issued for him over the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.
He flew to Kyrgyzstan, which is not a signatory to the ICC.
He will visit China next week.
Moscow’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov hopes to meet with representatives of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatar next week for talks on the release of Israeli hostages, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) was received yesterday by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, on his first flight out of the country since an international arrest warrant was issued.
Vladimir Putin at his Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, southern Russia
Moscow has so far cautiously denounced violence on both sides of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, while renewing an offer to be a potential mediator.
Bogdanov told RIA Novosti that he “did not rule out” meeting with Hamas representatives on the trip, adding: “If they are willing, we are always in favor of contact. Especially in this situation (the meeting) would be useful for the settlement of practical matters, including the release of hostages.’
On October 7, hundreds of Hamas gunmen broke through the militarized border around the Gaza Strip into Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 150 Israeli, foreign and dual hostages.
Moscow manages to maintain close relations with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
The announcement of Bogdanov’s efforts came a day after President Vladimir Putin said Russia could help find a way to end the crisis.
“Russia can (help), due to the fact that we have had good relations with Israel for the past 15 years,” Putin said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
He also said Israel risked an “unacceptable” siege on Gaza.
The Russian leader has said that the creation of a Palestinian state is the only possible way to resolve the conflict.
Moscow – whose troops have been fighting in Ukraine for nearly 20 months – has blamed the West for the conflict in Israel.
Ukraine reported today “hot” fighting around its eastern town of Avdiivka, saying Russian forces had not stopped attacking the symbolic industrial center for days in their bid to encircle it.
Ukrainian gunners carry out military activity in the direction of Donetsk after attempted attacks from Russia in Avdiivka
Ukrainian troops stepped up their assault on Donetsk after Russia’s incursion into the eastern town of Avdiivka
Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists.
Ukraine reported today “hot” fighting around its eastern town of Avdiivka, saying Russian forces had not stopped attacking the symbolic industrial center for days in their bid to encircle it.
Kiev last week said Russia had stepped up attacks on the frontline city, which is just 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Moscow-controlled Donetsk.
Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists.
Russian forces now control territory east, north and south of Avdiivka.
“For the fifth day, the enemy has not stopped either the attacks or the shelling of positions around the city,” said Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the city, on Ukrainian television.
“It’s very hot, very hot,” he said of the fighting.
“They are trying to surround the city,” Barabash added, claiming that Moscow was deploying “more new forces” in the area.
He described intense battles: “Of course there is no silence there. The shooting battles continue, both from the north and from the south of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kiev was holding on to Avdiivka, but Moscow claimed it had improved its positions there.
About 1,600 civilians remain in the city, which had a pre-war population of about 31,000.
Ukraine also said Saturday that a Russian strike killed an 11-year-old boy in the eastern village of Bagatyr, also in the Donetsk region, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Avdiivka.
“The boy turned 11 just two days ago,” Ukrainian police said in a statement.
He said his 31-year-old mother and younger brother were injured and taken to hospital after the attack, which damaged about 20 houses, a church and a school.
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