Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels used in the attack on Sochi may have been launched from the occupied part of Kherson Region or from Nikolayev, according to military analyst and retired Captain 1st Rank Vasily Dandykin.

He suggested that Ukraine’s use of sea drones against civilian infrastructure could be aimed at destabilizing the situation inside Russia.

Dandykin also argued that Ukraine no longer has enough such vessels to carry out frequent attacks and therefore assembles groups for strikes roughly once a week.

Late on September 9, Ukrainian sea drones attacked Sochi. Beach infrastructure and a nearby section of the embankment were damaged, while city authorities also reported a fire. According to the Krasnodar Region operational headquarters, the number of people injured in the attack rose to 28.

Dandykin also commented on the Ukrainian strike on Dagestan. He said the drones sent toward the port of Makhachkala could have been launched from southern regions of Ukraine.

According to his assessment, the aircraft would not have crossed the mountains and instead flew over the sea before changing direction and striking their target.

The analyst believes that the main objective of the attack in the area may not have been Makhachkala itself, but the Caspian Flotilla.

During the night of September 10, Ukrainian forces attacked Dagestan. Regional authorities reported a fire at the port of Makhachkala. A blaze also broke out at a local theater while the attack was being repelled. Official data said no one was injured.