Fires erupted in the early hours of September 22, 2025, at an electrical substation in Staroderevyankovskaya, a town nestled in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, following what officials described as a Ukrainian drone attack. According to the regional administration, the blaze was ignited by debris from drones that had fallen onto the substation, which sits in the Kanevskoy district. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and, thankfully, no casualties were reported. Yet, Russian authorities have remained tight-lipped about the extent of the damage, leaving many questions swirling about the impact on the region’s critical infrastructure.
The overnight incident was just the latest in a series of tit-for-tat attacks between Russia and Ukraine, a pattern that’s become all too familiar since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. As the Kyiv Independent reported, the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova Plus claimed that the substation was struck by Ukrainian drones at least five separate times during the night. Russian air defenses, meanwhile, asserted that they had intercepted a staggering 114 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight, with 25 of those reportedly shot down over Krasnodar Krai alone.
As the smoke settled, local Russian Telegram channels buzzed with reports of multiple explosions echoing through the region. The fallout extended beyond the substation: Sochi airport, a major hub on Russia’s Black Sea coast, was forced to temporarily suspend operations, causing disruptions to more than 20 flights on September 22, according to regional sources. For travelers and residents alike, the sudden halt was a stark reminder of how the ongoing conflict continues to ripple through daily life, far from the front lines.
Krasnodar Krai, which lies just east of Russian-occupied Crimea and is separated from it by the Kerch Strait, has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of Ukrainian drone operations. This is no coincidence. The region’s military and energy infrastructure plays a pivotal role in Russia’s air operations over the south and the Black Sea, making it a high-value target for Ukrainian forces seeking to disrupt Moscow’s war effort. In fact, local reports noted that drones had sparked another fire at a power station in the region during a separate overnight attack on September 1, 2025, underscoring the persistent threat posed by these unmanned aerial vehicles.
Ukraine has not officially commented on the reported attack in Staroderevyankovskaya. However, the broader context is clear: since the onset of the invasion, Ukrainian forces have made it a priority to target Russian infrastructure, particularly the fossil fuel facilities that help bankroll the Kremlin’s military campaign. As winter looms over Ukraine, this strategy appears to be intensifying. According to recent reporting by Kyiv-based outlets, Ukrainian officials claim that their drone strikes have inflicted extensive damage on Russian oil and gas infrastructure in recent months. These attacks, they argue, are designed not just to weaken Russia’s war chest but also to send a clear message that Ukraine can strike back deep inside enemy territory.
The timing of these operations is hardly accidental. As September draws to a close, Ukrainians are bracing for another brutal winter, haunted by the annual fear that Russian forces will once again target Ukraine’s own energy installations. The specter of millions plunged into darkness and cold hangs heavy in the air. In this high-stakes standoff, energy infrastructure has become both a weapon and a vulnerability for both sides.
Russian officials, for their part, have been quick to emphasize the scale of their defensive efforts. The Defense Ministry’s claim of intercepting 114 Ukrainian drones in a single night is meant to project strength and control. Yet, the fires and disruptions in Krasnodar Krai suggest that not every drone is being stopped. The lack of detailed information about the damage at the Staroderevyankovskaya substation—whether due to strategic silence or genuine uncertainty—only adds to the sense of unease.
For residents of Krasnodar Krai, these attacks are more than just headlines. The region’s proximity to Crimea and its role as a logistical hub make it a vital artery for Russian military operations. Every time a substation or power station goes up in flames, it’s not just about lost electricity; it’s about the growing reach of Ukraine’s drone program and the shifting balance of power in the skies above southern Russia and the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, the disruption at Sochi airport offered a glimpse of how quickly the conflict can spill over into civilian life. Over 20 flights were delayed or canceled as a direct result of the drone activity and subsequent emergency response. For a city that has long prided itself on its status as a resort destination and transport hub, the incident was a sobering reminder of the war’s far-reaching consequences.
As reported by the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian drone strikes have become increasingly sophisticated and frequent, targeting not just military outposts but also the infrastructure that keeps Russia’s war machine running. The attacks on energy facilities, in particular, are part of a calculated effort to undermine Russia’s ability to sustain its operations in Ukraine. By hitting oil and gas depots, power stations, and substations, Ukrainian forces hope to sap the resources that fuel Moscow’s campaign and, perhaps, force a recalibration of Russian strategy as the conflict grinds on.
But the risks are not one-sided. As winter approaches, Ukrainian officials and civilians alike are acutely aware that Russia may retaliate with its own waves of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid. The memory of previous winters—when millions shivered in the dark after Russian attacks on power plants and substations—remains vivid. This year, both sides appear to be locked in a high-tech arms race, with drones playing an ever-larger role in the battle for energy supremacy.
Yet, amid the escalating attacks and counterattacks, some things remain stubbornly opaque. Russian authorities have yet to provide a full accounting of the damage at the Staroderevyankovskaya substation, and independent verification of the claims made by both sides is difficult to come by. The fog of war, it seems, is as thick as ever—leaving residents, officials, and outside observers alike to piece together the truth from a patchwork of official statements, social media reports, and on-the-ground observations.
What is clear, however, is that the struggle for control over energy infrastructure has become a defining feature of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. With winter closing in and both sides ramping up their attacks, the stakes could hardly be higher. As one Ukrainian official put it, these strikes are about more than just infrastructure—they’re about sending a message, both to the Kremlin and to the world, that Ukraine will not be cowed, no matter how harsh the season ahead may be.