Dealing with the Aftermath of a Drone Attack in Adygeya

A drone attack on the Vinograd-2 residential complex in Novaya Adygeya late on 20 January left residents injured, homes damaged, and dozens temporarily displaced, as emergency teams and local authorities began recovery work.

This article was first published by Sovetskaya Adygeya and has been translated from Russian by AbkhazWorld.

Report from the scene by Sovetskaya Adygeya

The Vinograd-2 residential complex in the aul of Novaya Adygeya, in Takhtamukay District, was attacked by an enemy drone late in the evening on 20 January. For residents of the affected flats, it was an ordinary weekday and by 10:40pm many were already asleep or preparing for bed, when a loud explosion suddenly rang out.

As a result of the attack, 13 people were injured, including two children. Nine of them remain in medical facilities, where they are receiving the necessary care. Assistance for those affected, and the work of all emergency and public services to eliminate the consequences as quickly as possible, is under the personal supervision of the Head of the Republic of Adygeya, Murat Kumpilov.

Sovetskaya Adygeya visited the scene, met those affected at a temporary accommodation centre, and learned what support is being provided.

Those Affected

It was not possible to drive close to Vinograd-2, where preliminary reports indicate that 12 buildings sustained damage to varying degrees, even in a press vehicle, as every parking space was occupied. We had to cross a large, empty field on foot. The air smelled of burning, and the snow there was black.

A large crowd had gathered behind the cordon tape. People stood talking and gesturing, while representatives of various services worked on site, inspecting the area and assessing the damage.

Residents from the damaged flats formed a queue outside a large white tent set up by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM). There, officials were taking documents to process one-off financial assistance for lost property.

From the side of the car park, where the explosions had occurred, the façade of the multi-storey building was clearly visible, and the damage was extensive. Not a single window remained intact. Most balconies had lost their brickwork. On the most severely affected six-storey block, sections of roofing material had been lifted and torn upwards.

A second cordon had been placed around the car park. We managed to get closer and saw blackened, mangled vehicles, crushed so severely it was impossible to identify the make. Fragments of plastic, tyres, and vehicle parts were scattered across many metres.

‘The blast wave was so powerful that I felt a sudden gust of wind, and I saw a balcony frame flying towards me,’ said Yuriy, a resident of one of the damaged flats. ‘A fire broke out outside. I ran out of the flat without even understanding what was happening, and only once I was outside did I see that the car park and the cars were burning. At the same time, windows were bursting loudly. I ran to try to save my car, I wanted to push it further away, but when I got closer I realised there was nothing left to save, it was just a heap of twisted metal.’

According to Yuriy, when the authorities and EMERCOM eventually allow residents back, he will not be able to return home, as his flat is unlikely to be fit to live in. For now, he, along with other residents, is staying at a temporary accommodation centre located at the Shapsug recreation base. Those affected have been given spacious, comfortable rooms with showers and toilets, and each person has received a new set of bed linen.

In the room next door is Andrey. He said he had been watching television at the moment of the explosion.

‘There was a loud bang, glass flew everywhere, and the curtain rail fell down in my flat. I ran out onto the balcony, and people in the courtyard were screaming. Cars were burning to the right and left, and the flames reached up to the second floor. My flat is on the third. I packed quickly, grabbed my documents and ran out. In the stairwell, many flats were already open, and many doors had become warped. In the flat opposite, a woman was calling for help, her door had jammed. Together with other neighbours, we helped her. When I got downstairs, a young woman asked me to hold her child, she said her arms were tired. The little girl, about four or five, was wrapped in a blanket, the mother must have snatched her sleeping daughter, wrapped her up and ran. There were already lots of people outside, waiting for ambulances and firefighters,’ Andrey said.

He added that emergency services arrived quickly and sealed off the area. Ambulances took the injured to hospital. Those residents who were standing by the entrances and had nowhere to go were invited onto a bus and taken to a school.

‘We were taken to the recreation base closer to morning, around four o’clock. We were immediately given separate rooms, and they organised refreshments, tea, coffee, sandwiches. They said a psychologist was available to speak to anyone. People reacted differently to what happened. Hardly anyone managed to sleep, even though it had been a sleepless night,’ Andrey said.

He noted that his building was fairly new and he had only recently bought his flat. He plans to return as soon as he is allowed, but he is concerned that restoring heating, water, and gas supplies could take a long time.

‘The only thing is, I need to go back for some clothes, when you run out in a hurry you do not think about a change of clothes at all,’ Andrey added.

Another resident, Ravil, said he ran out in panic with his ten-year-old daughter.

‘I ran outside barefoot and without clothes. Once we saw the car park, it became clear what was happening. At the moment of the explosion, we were already asleep,’ the man said.

He went back up to the flat once to collect clothing, taking only the essentials. He arrived at the temporary accommodation centre alone. His school-age daughter and their dog were taken in for the night by friends. He said many affected residents had spent the night with relatives and friends. He, however, heard an announcement over a loudspeaker inviting all those affected to the temporary accommodation centre, and went to the bus.

‘My wife and son are away. They will come back tonight. Of course I called them straight away and told them what happened. We will stay at the temporary accommodation centre for now. They promised comprehensive support, including transport to school and back,’ he said. ‘It will be harder for me to get to work from here, but I have a weekly shift pattern and I went on leave yesterday, so there is still time to work out the travel arrangements.’

Support

Ravil said that hot meals are being provided three times a day at the temporary accommodation centre. Social workers are also checking on residents’ wellbeing and helping in every way possible.

‘The Head of the Republic, Murat Kumpilov, and the Head of the District, Asker Savv, recently came here and spoke with us. Murat Karalbievich assured us that help would be provided with repairs, and that we would be able to return home as soon as possible. All that remains is to wait,’ he added.

Saida Met, Deputy Director of the Takhtamukaysky Comprehensive Social Services Centre, was helping residents settle in at the recreation base along with her colleagues. They drew up lists of arrivals, and are now distributing essential supplies.

‘After everything happened, around five in the morning, 27 people were brought here, including two children. Others arrived later that morning. Some have since left to stay with relatives. Some are still waiting for someone to pick them up. But most will remain here for now. The Head of the Republic visited the temporary accommodation centre in the morning. He instructed officials to organise transport for schoolchildren to and from lessons. The republic’s Minister of Labour and Social Development, Dzhanbech Mirza, is permanently on site. He is resolving all issues raised by the affected residents. Meals have been organised with the help of local businesses. Many volunteers and simply concerned people come here, ask what is needed, and bring essential items,’ Saida Met said.

A dining area was set up on the ground floor of the building where residents are staying. Social workers distributed hot lunches to each person in individual portions.

As we were returning to our press vehicle, we met a young woman carrying large bags to the temporary accommodation centre. Her name was Olga, from Yablonovsky. Unable to remain at home in the face of someone else’s misfortune, she hurried to help.

‘I want to ask what else is needed. For now, I bought hygiene supplies, drinking water, and warm clothes,’ she said.

Working Around the Clock

According to the republic’s government, targeted assistance is being provided to everyone affected. The Head of Adygeya, Murat Kumpilov, travelled to the scene in Novaya Adygeya immediately after returning from a trip, and held an emergency meeting to coordinate the work of all services and agencies. Eliminating the consequences of the drone attack remains under his personal supervision.

An operational headquarters and all emergency and public services are working around the clock, including rescue workers, utilities teams, medical staff, social workers, and government representatives. Everything possible is being done to restore the damaged buildings as quickly as possible. Many residents and volunteers have also joined the effort. Humanitarian aid collection points have been opened in Takhtamukaysky District.

Construction companies have offered their assistance. Together with contractors and building management organisations, they are clearing the area, removing construction debris and burnt-out vehicles. Builders have begun restoring damaged partitions inside the buildings, and technical assessments are being carried out on various structural elements.

The temporary accommodation centre remains in operation. Residents there have everything necessary for daily living. Social workers and psychologists are working with them.

Medical treatment for the injured remains under close supervision. Nine people are currently receiving hospital care under doctors’ observation. According to Adygeya’s Ministry of Health, the condition of all hospitalised patients is stable and they are recovering.

Specialists from the district administration are conducting door to door checks, carrying out inspections of flats through official commissions, and preparing the required documents for financial compensation. On the morning of 22 January, it became known that residents of eight multi-storey buildings were allowed to return to their flats after inspections. Assessments by a special commission continue in other buildings.

At the same time as repair work and site clearance, extensive work is being carried out by the volunteer corps of Takhtamukaysky District. Since yesterday, volunteers, including local deputies, administration staff, public sector employees, and other residents, have taken on the coordination of support for those affected. Humanitarian supplies from settlements across the district are being delivered to a distribution point near the incident site. There, volunteers sort clothing, food, water, and other necessities. In addition to distribution, volunteers are helping clean the area, removing debris, clearing rubble, and assisting residents in carrying damaged furniture out of flats so that construction teams can begin repairs.

‘Thank you to entrepreneurs, community activists, and all caring residents for your responsiveness and readiness to help in a difficult moment. It is precisely at times like this that we see most clearly how united we are,’ Murat Kumpilov wrote on social media.