Putin's Most Favorite City Burns In Flames. Noose Tightens on Russia's Economy - The Russian Dude

Ukraine’s relentless drone strikes are now hitting Russia where it hurts most, targeting critical oil infrastructure and shattering the illusion of security in Putin’s most prized city, Sochi. Once the crown jewel of Russia’s image-building, the 2014 Winter Olympics host city is now the site of burning fuel depots, grounded flights, and exposed vulnerabilities. This is more than just an attack—it’s a psychological blow to the Kremlin, signaling that nowhere in Russia is beyond Ukraine’s reach. The strikes come alongside a growing economic squeeze, as Donald Trump’s shortened ultimatum to Putin raises the stakes and Washington considers secondary sanctions to cut off Russia’s lifeline of oil sales to China and India. Meanwhile, Moscow’s retaliatory missile and drone barrages on Ukrainian cities reveal a regime lashing out in desperation, trying to project strength while its economy strains under sanctions and battlefield realities. With July marking record-breaking Russian missile launches, the spectacle of war is starting to crumble, exposing the cracks in Putin’s empire and tightening the noose around Russia’s economy.