SOCHI, — Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out coordinated drone strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure in the Sochi area on September 4, with further damage reported at Sochi International Airport. The strikes destroyed air defense systems, damaged fuel storage facilities and destroyed or damaged several Russian military helicopters.
S-300 and Pantsir systems destroyed
The first strike took place in the early hours of September 4 against a Russian air defense position near the settlement of Sirius, close to the Psou River and the border with occupied Abkhazia.
Satellite imagery published by the Absolutely Reliable Source Telegram channel showed two S-300 launchers and a Pantsir surface-to-air missile and gun system destroyed. The exact Pantsir modification was not identified, although reports linked it to a newer Pantsir-SMD configuration produced by Russia's High-Precision Systems holding.
Russian publication ASTRA and OSINT group Exilenova+ analyzed eyewitness footage and geolocated the fire to the area. The first explosions were reported at about 1:20 a.m., followed by secondary detonations that reportedly continued for several hours.
Oil depots hit
During the same operation, Ukrainian drones struck two oil facilities in the Sochi area: Rosneft's Adler oil depot and a Lukoil facility.
Later satellite imagery showed damage to several storage tanks. At the BATO aviation fuel terminal near Sochi's Adler Airport, associated with Rosneft operations, six tanks were destroyed — two RVS-2000 tanks and four RVS-1000 tanks. At the Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt depot, three RVS-400 tanks were destroyed or damaged.
The facilities had protective netting and structures, but fires were reported at the sites.
The attack also disrupted operations at Sochi International Airport. Restrictions lasted for more than 11 hours, with dozens of flights delayed, canceled or diverted. Aircraft refueling was also limited, with notices restricting services primarily to the Lukoil operator for a period.
Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin confirmed a large drone attack on civilian and military infrastructure in Sochi and Sirius. He advised residents to remain away from windows and stay in shelters. Drone debris was found at several locations, while local authorities reported no casualties.
Russian helicopters damaged
Satellite imagery released after the attack also showed damage to military helicopters at Sochi International Airport.
Ukraine's Defense Forces destroyed a Ka-52 and a Mi-28 attack helicopter, while a Mi-8 family multirole helicopter was damaged. Two radar stations at the airport, including an airfield surveillance radar, were also reported damaged.
The initial reports came from eyewitness videos, photographs and OSINT geolocation. Subsequent satellite imagery from the Absolutely Reliable Source channel was used to assess damage to the S-300 launchers, Pantsir system, fuel tanks and helicopters.
The strikes affected Russian air defense, aviation and fuel infrastructure in the Sochi area, although Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed all of the reported military losses.
Source : militarnyi
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