Sochi Airport Chaos: Passengers Stranded for Days Amid Drone Attacks

Sochi's airport has been thrown into chaos as Ukrainian drone attacks prompt repeated closures, leaving thousands of passengers stranded for up to two days during the peak tourist season. The airport runway was suspended six times in the past 36 hours, causing severe flight delays and cancellations. As of June 17, only 46 out of 107 flights had departed, according to airport press service reports, with an estimated 12,000 passengers affected, not counting those waiting from the previous day.

Passengers specifically stranded include those on Rossiya Airlines flights to Perm and Novosibirsk, who have been unable to depart since June 15 and June 16, respectively. Travelers told local media that while they received meal vouchers, many restaurants participating in the program had run out of food, leaving the vouchers unusable. The situation is mirrored for inbound travelers: a flight from Ufa to Sochi was diverted first to Makhachkala and then to Mineralnye Vody, where accommodations were provided only for families with children, leaving about 50 passengers without lodging.

The disruptions have coincided with fuel shortages across the Krasnodar region, with residents and tourists reporting a lack of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline in cities including Krasnodar, Anapa, Tuapse, and Novorossiysk. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev has denied a fuel deficit, attributing the scarcity at smaller gas stations to artificial panic. The airport announced another drone threat around 4:00 p.m. on June 17, further compounding delays.

The total number of stranded passengers has not been disclosed by the airport. The ongoing attacks and infrastructure strain highlight the broader impact of the conflict on civilian travel and daily life in southern Russia.