Sochi International Airport in southern Russia has restricted aircraft refuelling to a single fuel operator after an overnight drone attack sparked a fire at a nearby oil depot, according to the Russian outlet Verstka.
An aviation notice known as a NOTAM stated that refuelling at Sochi airport is now being carried out exclusively by the company LLC Lukoil for technical reasons, and that airlines must confirm fuel supply arrangements with that operator.
How long the restriction lasts
According to available information, the restriction is due to remain in force for 24 hours, starting at 13:35 Moscow time and running until 13:30 the following day. The order replaced an earlier restriction issued the same day that had banned refuelling entirely for all fuel operators at the airport.
Beyond the fuel shortage, the attack also disrupted the airport's flight schedule. Russia's federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, said that aircraft arrivals and departures at Sochi airport had been temporarily restricted for flight safety reasons.
Governor addresses fuel supply concerns
Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of the Krasnodar region, said the fire at the storage tanks could significantly complicate the fuel situation in the city. He added that petrol and diesel were being supplied in sufficient quantities, though he acknowledged that attempts to artificially create shortages had already been recorded at some petrol stations.
What led to the attack
Overnight on 4 September, Ukraine's Defence Forces struck a Russian military facility near Sochi, triggering a large fire. OSINT analysts said the target may have been a Russian S-300 or S-400 anti-aircraft missile system located near the settlement of Sirius, close to the Psou River and the border with Abkhazia.
A separate fire also broke out at an oil depot in the Sochi area, with local residents reporting a huge column of flame visible from a considerable distance. The Krasnodar region's operational headquarters confirmed that Sochi and the Sirius district had come under a massed drone attack overnight, with drone debris found in several locations across the city.
