Russian TikTokers forced to issue grovelling apology by Putin after filming video at oil depot blown up by Ukraine

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

TWO Russian TikTokers were forced to issue a grovelling apology after filming in front of a flaming Russian plant following a Ukrainian strike.
Social media influencers Dasha Vladimirovna 21, and Karina Evgenyevna, 19, were filmed rapping in front of the Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt oil depot in Sochi.
7
Russian zoomers Dasha Loskutova, 21, and Karina Oshurkova, 20, and their unidentified male friend were paraded in a Russian court today
Credit: East2West
7
Then they were forced to record an apology
Credit: East2West
7
They were seen filmed rapping in front of burning oil depot hit by a Ukrainian drone in Sochi
Credit: East2West
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.
Then they were forced to record an apology saying: 'We sincerely apologise for filming the video against the backdrop of a fire and posting it on a social network.
'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.
Oil depot EXPLODES as Ukraine launches major strike on Russian city of Sochi
"The police have initiated an investigation, measures are being taken to identify the girls, and their actions will be legally assessed."
Later it was confirmed that the duo had been detained, and there were calls from pro-war outlets for them to issue a public apology over the stunt close to 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 regularly hit Russian oil and gas infrastructure in response to attacks on its own territory since Russia began its offensive in February 2022.
7
A police bulletin circulated in Sochi calls for the public to help locate two young women filmed rapping in front of a burning oil depot
Credit: East2West
7
Ukrainian drones hit Rosneft oil depot in Sochi
Credit: East2West
7
Firefighters working at a fuel depot outside Sochi after an overnight Ukrainian drone attack
Credit: AFP
7
The drone strike came as Russian forces bombed a key bridge used to transport military logistics in the Ukrainian frontline city of Kherson
Credit: Getty
"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.