Explosions were heard in Gelendzhik, and a major fire broke out
A series of explosions rocked the Russian city of Gelendzhik on the evening of August 13. Locals reported that air defense systems were active, and a major fire was reported in the city.
The first reports of the attack emerged around 6:02 p.m. Russian monitoring channels stated that Gelendzhik was under attack by drones. An air raid alert was issued in the region. Local residents reported the activation of Russian air defense systems and the sounds of explosions.
Later, around 6:50 p.m., air defense systems were heard operating in the city again. According to local news channels, one of the missiles, allegedly fired by Russian air defense, fell into the sea. At the same time as reports of explosions in Gelendzhik, a major fire was reported. It is not yet known for certain what caught fire or whether the fire is related to the attack.
As of the time this information was published, Russian local authorities had not reported on the attack or its consequences. Therefore, there is currently no precise information regarding possible hits, damage, or casualties.
Gelendzhik has been attacked before
This is not the first time Gelendzhik has come under attack. On August 7, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a Russian facility in the area. According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian “Volna-Kupol-Garant” electronic warfare system was hit during that attack. This system is designed to counter Starlink satellite communications, which are actively used by the Ukrainian military.
Why Does Russia Need “Volna Kupol Garant”?
“Volna Kupol Garant” is a specialized Russian electronic warfare system. Its primary task is to jam Starlink satellite communications. The system works by generating a powerful radio signal directed at the satellite. In this way, the Russian system attempts to prevent the satellite from receiving signals from users’ ground terminals.
Such systems are of particular importance to the Russian military, as Starlink is used for communications and data transmission. Therefore, neutralizing these electronic warfare assets could weaken the Russian forces’ ability to counter satellite communications.
At this time, however, reports of the evening attack on Gelendzhik require further confirmation. In particular, it is unknown what exactly caused the fire and whether the explosions resulted in damage or casualties.
A court in Moscow, in the Russian Federation—the aggressor state—has ruled to bar the liberal Yabloko party from participating in the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. “Yabloko” was the only registered party in the country that opposed Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to BBC News.
