Two young Russian women and a man were ordered to make a humbling public apology for a video posing with a burning oil depot after a major Ukrainian oil strike in Vladimir Putin’s favourite resort. A drone exploded the military-linked Rosneft oil depot in Sochi after 30 explosions thundered over the Black Sea city.
TikTokers Dasha Vladimirovna Loskutova, 21, and Karina Evgenyevna Oshurkova, 20, were filmed rapping in front of the burning facility today. They and an unidentified man were seen as glorying in the Ukrainian strike, which Putin’s air defences failed to prevent, and are now likely to face fines of up to £280. An investigation is underway that could see them face harsher punishments.
A major search involving police and the Russian national guard was launched after the video appeared.
Under questioning after the three were detained, Karina was asked: “Do you repent for what you did?”
She replied: “Yes.”
Asked “Do you admit your guilt?” – she replied: “I admit it.”
Then they were forced to record a squirming police station mea culpa 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.”
They shot a video for the track Crimson Dawn by singer Endshpil, a Russian rapper.
Kremlin moral guardian Yekaterina Mizulina, 40, head of Russia’s Safe Internet League, said: “Young people are filming content against the backdrop of drones flying into Sochi at night….
“I wonder what’s wrong with the instinct for self-preservation? Don’t they understand that this is simply dangerous?”
But the real reason for their arrest is the potential glamourising of a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s largest holiday resort. Moscow takes an increasingly hardline against social media stunts seen as highlighting Ukraine’s successes in the war.