Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
Wildfires broke out in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions due to falling drone debris. In the Rostov region, the railway overhead power line was also damaged, while in the Kuban region, three people—including two children—were killed in an attack the previous day.
Overnight on August 23, drones attacked several Russian regions, including the Rostov, Krasnodar, and Volgograd regions, as well as the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the interception and destruction of 328 UAVs over 18 regions and two seas.
Among the southern regions, the Rostov region saw the highest number of drones. According to Governor Yuri Slyusar, about 30 drones were destroyed in the skies over the Verkhnedonskoy, Millerovsky, and Chertkovsky districts. In the Millerovsky district—from where drones were launched at Ukraine that night—dry grass caught fire following the fall of UAV debris. Authorities did not specify the size of the fire. In the Chertkovsky district, drone fragments damaged the overhead wire on a railway siding; the line has since been repaired, and there were no injuries.
In the Kuban region, the attack affected a natural area. Dry vegetation caught fire in the Bolshoy Utrish Nature Reserve near Anapa. The fire spread across approximately 100 square meters. It was contained by 11:35 a.m., with about 20 personnel and four pieces of equipment involved in extinguishing it. Preliminary reports indicate that falling UAV debris caused the blaze.
This is not the first serious incident in the Krasnodar region in the last 24 hours. On the morning of August 22, drones attacked the Yeysky district, resulting in the deaths of two children and the hospitalization of two adults. Later, one of the injured victims died in the hospital, bringing the death toll to three.
According to the Ukrainian military, an oil terminal in Yeysk was hit during the attack. Russian authorities reported strikes on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, as well as a fire at a facility within the port area.
