Close Call in Sochi
Reports from the Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda indicate that a kamikaze drone struck a helipad in Sochi just a day after the Russian president had left his nearby residence.
The targeted helipad, situated merely 12 kilometers from Putin's residence and regularly used by him, was attacked on October 1, shortly after Putin's meeting with Kazakh President Qassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Recent intelligence reports reveal that the attack was carried out by the Ukrainian long-range drone, Liutyi, during its second combat mission, effectively hitting deep within Russian territory.
“Our attack damaged their helipad and several helicopters. Initially, we were unaware that Putin had been at the Adler site with Tokayev just the day before our strike. Putin was only 12 kilometers away from the second Liutyi attack site. We later received confirmation of these details,” an official from Ukrainian intelligence conveyed to Ukrainska Pravda.
Unexpected Drone Attacks in Russia
The impact of the attack was profound, surprising Russian defenses, as not only Sochi was hit but also St. Petersburg.
“Initially, they believed the drone launched from a ship or the Georgian mountains. They were completely unaware it had originated from Ukraine. And then, it suddenly struck St. Petersburg—virtually the far end of Russia. This clearly shook them,” an intelligence official explained to Pravda.
To date, as reported by the American broadcaster PBS, approximately six drone assassination attempts on Putin have been intercepted.
Russian media have described these attempts as “terrorist” attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied such allegations last May, stating, “We are not targeting Putin or Moscow.”
With the deployment of long-range drones like the Liutyi, the conflict in Ukraine is increasingly extending into Russian territory. Kiev’s primary targets include oil depots, refineries, and arms factories—key components not only for Russia's exports but also vital for sustaining the Russian war effort.
