Young Tourist Punished for Capturing Footage of Fire After Ukrainian Drone Attack

A court in the southern Krasnodar region imposed a fine of 30,000 rubles ($376) on a tourist for filming a video of an oil depot near Sochi after it was set on fire by a Ukrainian drone attack.

In the footage, two young women and a young man are seen lip-syncing to a song in front of the burning depot, which was hit between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Local authorities reported that the fire was brought under control 11 hours after the incident.

On Sunday evening, law enforcement released a video featuring the three individuals with their faces blurred, where they expressed remorse for recording and sharing the footage online.

The Adler District Court found 20-year-old Karina Oshchurkova guilty of breaching emergency regulations, a violation that carries a penalty of up to 50,000 rubles.

According to the Krasnodar region’s court system, Oshchurkova claimed in court that her impulsive actions were influenced by alcohol.

Authorities identified Oshchurkova along with a 19-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man from Nizhny Tagil, a city located approximately 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) northeast of Sochi.

At least 12 regions in Russia have started issuing fines for posting photos or videos related to the aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes.

On Monday afternoon, Ukraine’s military announced it was responsible for what it described as a successful strike on the refueling base at Sochi International Airport, located in the Adlersky City District.