Drones attacked Sochi while Putin was there, Russian media reports
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian President (Getty Images)
Sochi came under a drone attack while Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was in the city on a visit, delivering a speech at the Valdai Forum, The Moscow Times reports.
According to the outlet, at around 10:30 p.m. local time, airports in Sochi and Gelendzhik were closed. Half an hour later, Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin confirmed a drone attack.
Posts on social media indicated that air defense systems tried to shoot down drones over the sea, while sirens and explosions were heard.
Dmitry Plishkin, head of the federal territory Sirius in Krasnodar Krai, also reported the attack.
At the same time, Putin was speaking and answering questions at the Valdai Forum’s plenary session until about 10:00 p.m.
Following the incident, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it had successfully destroyed 11 drones over the Black Sea, and said four more had been shot down over occupied Crimea.
Ukraine has not officially confirmed carrying out the strike.
What Putin said at the Valdai Forum
During his speech, Putin responded to US President Donald Trump’s remark that Russia is a paper tiger. He effectively challenged NATO, calling on the Alliance to deal with this paper tiger.
He also said that Russian troops advanced in Ukraine's Kupiansk, Pokrovsk, and Kostiantynivka.
