TWO Russian TikTokers were forced to issue an apology after filming a video in front of a flaming Russian plant following a Ukrainian strike.
Social media influencers, Dasha Vladimirovna, 21, and Karina Evgenyevna, 19, were captured on video while rapping in front of the Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt oil depot located in Sochi.
The energy plant was on fire after being hit by a massive Ukrainian drone attack, which is understood to have infuriated Moscow.
But the TikTok stars were seen glorying in the Ukrainian strike, which the Russian air defences failed to prevent.
The video was posted to a track called Crimson Dawn by singer Endshpil, a Russian rapper.
Both influencers were immediately arrested.
New footage has since emerged showing the two TikTokers being paraded in a Russian court.
Subsequently, the pair were compelled to film an apology, stating, “We sincerely apologize for recording the video with the backdrop of a fire and sharing it on a social media platform.”
“We did not post the video with the intention of insulting or offending anyone.
“We pledge not to make such mistakes again. We are ready to be punished under Russian law.”
A police “wanted” notice was issued after the initial TikTok video made rounds on the internet.
It said: “During Internet monitoring, a publication was found showing two girls filming a video against the backdrop of a fire in Sochi.
“The police have initiated an investigation, measures are being taken to identify the girls, and their actions will be legally assessed.”
It was later confirmed that the two influencers had been detained, and pro-war outlets demanded they issue a public apology for their stunt near Sochi airport.
Both of them were fined £280 for filming near the burning site.
Moscow takes an increasingly aggressive, extreme stance against social media stunts seen as highlighting Ukraine’s successes in the war.
A Ukrainian outlet Pravda Gerashchenko mocked: “Russian zoomers are happy about the burning oil depot in [Sochi] – a new location for selfies.
“Ukrainian defence forces will definitely try to create as many such locations as possible.”
Ukraine‘s general staff on Monday confirmed it had carried out a drone attack on a fuel depot of Sochi airport in southern Russia on Sunday.
Kyiv has consistently targeted Russian oil and gas infrastructure as retaliation for attacks on its territory since Russia launched its offensive in February 2022.
“Sochi suffered a drone attack by the Kyiv regime last night,” the governor of Russia‘s Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratiev, said on Telegram.
He said drone wreckage hit an “oil tank, which caused a fire” during the nighttime attack.
Sochi’s mayor, Andrei Proshunin, said there were no victims and that the fire was put out several hours later.
He confirmed that the fire had been caused by a nighttime drone strike, with debris hitting an oil tanker.
Local officials said 90 firefighters were involved in bringing the blaze under control.
The drone attack came as Russian forces bombed a key bridge used to transport military logistics in the Ukrainian frontline city of Kherson.
Footage shows a Russian airstrike destroying the key road crossing on the Dnipro River after dropping two guided bombs over the weekend.
Putin ready to meet Zelensky, Kremlin says
By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter
VLADIMIR Putin is ready to meet Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his boss will meet the Ukrainian leader “after preparatory work is done at the expert level”.
He added that such work has not yet been done.
Putin has previously rejected a slew of proposals from Zelensky to meet for negotiations.
He said last week that peace talks had made some positive progress, but that Russia had the momentum in the war.
But Donald Trump has put pressure on Russia to urgently agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Trump’s deadline for a Ukraine peace is set to expire in just days after the MAGA prez cut the 50-day waiting period to just “10-12 days”.
This situation indicates that Russia has until August 8 to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine or face severe sanctions that could further hinder Moscow.
Despite the pressure from Washington, Russia has continued its onslaught against its pro-Western neighbour.
Trump has expressed frustration with Putin, questioning whether the Russian leader really wants peace with Ukraine.
The US president expressed his dissatisfaction with Putin, as their last conversation did not result in any advancement toward the Ukraine peace agreement, a priority he has emphasized since reassuming office.
Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids – which could soon hit 1,000 drones and missiles a day.
Meanewhile, Trump confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia in the coming week.
Moscow today said that Witkoff’s visit would be important and helpful.
Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow before Trump’s efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.
The US special envoy has held long conversations with Putin but failed to persuade him to agree to a ceasefire.
Back in May, Zelensky had challenged the Russian dictator to meet him face-to-face to turn the screw and make a deal.
Putin instead dodged peace and said he would only meet him when there was a done deal.
Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.
Putin also wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join Nato.
