Two Russian influencers have been arrested after posting a TikTok video showing them rapping in front of a burning oil depot in Sochi, following a Ukrainian drone strike.
Dasha Vladimirovna, 21, and Karina Evgenyevna, 19, were filmed near the Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt facility, which was set ablaze in a dramatic nighttime explosion. The fire was caused by a Ukrainian drone attack that breached Russian air defenses.
The video, posted to the track Crimson Dawn by Russian rapper Endshpil, shows the two young women glorifying the aftermath of the strike—just meters from the flames.
According to Russian authorities, the influencers were identified through online monitoring. A police statement said:
“During internet monitoring, a publication was found showing two girls filming a video against the backdrop of a fire in Sochi.”
Following an investigation, both women were located and taken into custody. Although a third person appeared with them in the video, police have only named Dasha and Karina as suspects.
Outrage erupted from pro-Kremlin voices demanding public apologies. Yekaterina Mizulina, head of Russia’s Safe Internet League, criticized the duo, questioning their “instinct for self-preservation” and accusing them of glamorizing a Ukrainian military success.
Online, reactions were mixed. While Russian officials condemned the video, Ukrainian adviser Anton Gerashchenko mocked the arrest, stating:
“Russian zoomers are happy about the burning oil depot in Sochi—a new location for selfies.”
The drone strike on the oil depot is part of an escalating conflict, as Ukrainian forces continue to retaliate against ongoing Russian air raids. More than 120 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze in Sochi, a city also linked to one of Vladimir Putin’s alleged palaces.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, Russian air strikes damaged key infrastructure, including a bridge vital for military and civilian logistics. Residents in the Korabel neighborhood were urged to evacuate due to disrupted supply routes.
As Moscow intensifies its nightly bombing raids, both the physical and digital fronts of the war are becoming increasingly volatile—bringing influencers, music, and viral content into the conflict’s crosshairs.
