Drone attack on Sochi oil depot disrupts airport fueling

Fueling operations at Sochi Airport in Russia's Krasnodar region were temporarily restricted for airlines following a drone attack on a local oil depot. The restriction is in effect from 13:35 on September 4 to 13:30 on September 5. According to a NOTAM message cited by the Russian outlet Verstka, refueling is currently only available through operator Lukoil due to technical reasons, requiring airlines to confirm availability with this supplier in advance. Russia's aviation authority also announced temporary limits on aircraft arrivals and departures at Sochi for security reasons. Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin said drones attacked the city overnight, sparking a fire at the oil depot, which is located about 100 meters from the international airport—Russia's fifth-busiest in 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said the war is "closing the sky" over Russia, prompting ICAO to update safety recommendations for civilian aircraft over conflict zones.