A drone strike near Vladimir Putin's £1 billion palace has killed at least four people and wounded a dozen others on a Russian beach. The unmanned plane crashed and exploded among sunbathers in Arkhipo-Osipovka, just 17 miles from the president's Gelendzhik residence.
Beach Attack Details
The incident occurred on a popular beach in temperatures of 29C. One of the dead was reportedly a child. Witnesses described panic as the drone fell and detonated, with some cowering under sun loungers and others fleeing from the sea.
Air defence machine gunners were heard trying to intercept the drone, but the crippled UAV fell on tourists. The intended target was unclear, though Putin's high-security palace lies along the same coastline.
Witness Accounts
One witness said: "We were on the beach at the time. I'm in complete shock." Another added: "We were on the beach, didn't have time to leave, hid behind a ledge, covered ourselves with sun loungers, and didn't see where it exploded."
A third witness described seeing crowds leaving and a man with a bloody shoulder. A tourist said: "I'm leaving here with my family. This all happened in front of the children, and the child is having a nervous breakdown."
Official Response
Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed the deaths, saying: "In the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka, three people were killed, according to preliminary information, due to the crash of drone debris. I extend my sincere condolences to their families and loved ones. Thirteen others were injured."
A Ukrainian source suggested the hit may have targeted a "private resort" for Russian engineers from the Mashinostroenie Research and Production Association. There was no immediate official comment.
Context and Concerns
Russian tourists have flocked to the Black Sea coastline, believing it safer than occupied Crimea, which faces a Ukrainian blockade. However, the Gelendzhik area has been repeatedly targeted by drones. Beachgoers voiced outrage that there were no warning sirens.
Mayor Alexey Bogodistov announced a drone threat at 8:34 am and cancelled it ten minutes later, but no warning was given. Putin's clifftop palace includes a 16-storey underground complex and bunker designed to withstand nuclear attack.
