Drone attack disrupts sporting events in Sochi

The match between FC Sochi and Moscow's Spartak has been postponed due to a drone threat. The Sochi hockey club's match against CSKA, which was cancelled on February 23 for the same reason, will also be played in Moscow in March.

The match between Sochi and Moscow's Spartak in the 19th round of the Russian Football Championship, scheduled for March 1, will be rescheduled, the Russian Premier League (RPL) press service announced today.

"By decision of the head referee, the RPL match between Sochi and Spartak in the 19th round will be postponed to another date due to the declaration of a drone alert in Sochi. We will announce the new date and time later," the statement read.

The Sochi mayor's office announced the drone threat today at 1:45 p.m. Moscow time.

At 1:56 PM, Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin announced on his Telegram channel that an air defense system was operational in Sochi.

"I ask Sochi residents and visitors to remain calm and observe necessary safety precautions. If you live near the coastline, do not go outside under any circumstances; stay indoors without glass," he said.

Sochi and Spartak fans were allowed into Fisht Stadium but were not allowed into the stands, Kub_Mash reported.

A post about the match's postponement garnered 70 comments on the Match TV Telegram channel. "As if no one knew there were drones flying around... What were they expecting? The organization is completely broken," Konstantin noted. "The city of Sochi fulfilled its obligations, the stadium is standing, the lights are on. Sochi, as the hosts, is suffering losses: rent, stewards, police. They are all on duty," Dmitry wrote. Along with the Spartak match, the match between Chernomorets Novorossiysk and Torpedo was postponed. The start was pushed back by half an hour, and the game is being played without spectators, according to Sports.ru.

The Sochi hockey club's match against Torpedo in the KHL began at 2:00 PM Moscow time, but was suspended in the third period: spectators were sent to shelter in the technical area, according to the publication.

On February 23, Sochi's home game against CSKA was scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM Moscow time. Fans were already gathering at the stadium, but just before kickoff, the opening faceoff was pushed back by an hour. The game ultimately began at 6:15 PM, and after the first period, the match was finally cancelled due to "drone attack mode." By that point, the score was 0-0. – now they will finish the match on March 11 in Moscow, starting with the second period.

In September 2025, the Krasnodar Krai introduced a ban on disseminating information about drone attacks and their consequences, as well as on filming air defense operations, military installations, and critical infrastructure. In December 2025, the Kuban authorities introduced fines for filming aerial attacks and air defense operations. A corresponding regional legislative assembly bill was published on the "Caucasian Knot."

In other regions of the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts, filming drone attacks and their consequences is also prohibited. These prohibitions contradict the Constitution, which guarantees the inadmissibility of censorship and the freedom to search, record, and disseminate information, lawyers pointed out.