Delays affect 22 trains in the southern region of Russia, according to Russian Railways.
In the past week, drone incidents attributed to Ukrainian forces have caused significant disruptions in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions of Russia. These attacks have resulted in casualties, train delays, and airport restrictions.
On July 24 in Krasnodar Krai, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted an oil depot on Tavricheskaya Street in Sochi, causing one death and one injury, as well as explosions that disrupted the city. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed at Sochi airport amid these attacks.
The next day, falling drone debris struck a train station in Krasnodar city, damaging a passenger car and injuring two people. This attack, alongside related damage to rail infrastructure in Rostov Oblast, caused significant disruptions, delaying several trains.
In Rostov Oblast, a drone attack on July 21 caused a fire at a train station in Kamenolomni village. More recently, on July 26, two people were killed when a Ukrainian drone hit a car near the Zimovnikovsky district. The attacks in Rostov also caused power outages and damage to residential buildings in several districts.
On July 29, debris from drone strikes damaged railroad tracks in the town of Salsk in Rostov, causing train delays that have since been resolved.
Throughout southern Russia, air defenses have intercepted numerous drones. For instance, between July 24-25, Russian military air defenses destroyed over 100 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including Krasnodar and Rostov. The Stavropol region also faced a major drone attack involving 37 drones, though with no reported casualties.
As a result of these attacks, 20 flights are delayed at Sochi Airport for departure, and 18 flights are delayed at Sochi Airport for arrival. Overnight, restrictions on accepting and sending aircraft were imposed in the airports of Sochi, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, Mineralnye Vody, Tambov, Nalchik, Stavropol, and Magas. These restrictions were in effect for approximately two hours.
Russian Railways reported that train No. 125 Moscow - Novorossiysk was damaged, with window glass broken, and the train continues its journey with a 50-minute delay. In the Krasnodar region, 12 trains are delayed, with delays not exceeding one hour. No new information was provided about any injuries or hospitalizations related to the drone incidents at the train stations.
Despite these disruptions, Russian authorities continue to defend against these drone incursions. The Ministry of Defense reported that 23 drones were shot down over the Rostov region, 8 over the Krasnodar region, and another 74 over other Russian regions overnight. However, no new details were given about the number or type of drones shot down in the Rostov or Krasnodar regions overnight.
References:
- Russia Today
- TASS
- RIA Novosti
- Interfax
- The attacks in the past week, including the one on Tavricheskaya Street in Sochi, are not limited to the transportation industry, as they have extended to the finance sector with the disrupted oil depot operations.
- The crime and justice system is becoming increasingly involved in the aftermath of these drone incidents, as witnessed by the injury and death of civilians in Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast.
- The general news outlets are reporting on the extensive damage caused by the drone attacks, not just on public-transit infrastructure but also on residential buildings in various regions of southern Russia.
- Beyond the immediate effects on transportation, such as train delays and airport restrictions, the long-term impact of these drone incidents might involve the automotive industry, considering the recent car accident in Zimovnikovsky district.
