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Why Putin Is Avoiding His Favorite Black Sea Retreat
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The number of vacationers along Russia’s Black Sea coast dropped by 10.8% compared to last year due to the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes and oil spills, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has also stopped traveling to his favorite resort city due to safety concerns.
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Air travel to the region saw a sharp decline, with flight bookings to Sochi Airport falling by 40%, while select hotels reported up to a 20% decrease in guest numbers.
While he made 24 trips to Sochi in 2021, he visited the site only twice throughout 2024 and 2025 combined. Air raid sirens, detonations, fires, oil slicks in the water, and long lines at gas stations have become a common reality for visitors in the region.
Beside the direct risk of military strikes, the coastline faces environmental issues caused by damage to local energy infrastructure.
"When I go out to the seafront in the evening, I feel this strange dissonance — music, dancing. But people are so tired of living through this nightmare that they just don't care. They simply want a change of scenery," explained a guesthouse owner in Kabardinka.
Despite the growing risks, many beaches and dining establishments remain crowded. The main factor is a lack of travel options for most Russian citizens, as over 65% of the population has never traveled abroad, and 30% have never left their home region.
Following sanctions, flight cancellations, and banking restrictions, more than 80% of all trips occur domestically within Russia. Furthermore, employees working in military-industrial enterprises are entirely banned from leaving the country.
"Sirens almost never turned on before, but now they scream several times a day," said a tour boat captain from Arkhipo-Osipovka, noting that most people on the beaches simply ignore the warning signals.
Earlier on August 2, multiple drone strikes targeted industrial and military-linked facilities across Russia, including an oil refinery in Samara and a defense communications plant in Penza.
The attacks prompted emergency responses, partial airport closures, and mobile internet restrictions in several regions.
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