Horror moment drone smashes into sunbathers on packed beach near Putin’s Black Sea palace killing at least four

THIS is the horrifying moment a drone smashes into sunbathers on a packed beach near Vladimir Putin’s £1billion Black Sea palace. At least four people including a child were reportedly killed and 10 were left injured after the UAV was intercepted by Russian air defences. The downed drone was seen smashing into a beach near the Black Sea Credit: East2West Dramatic footage showed beachgoers fleeing following the blast Credit: East2West Chaos unfolded on the shores of Arkhipo-Osipovka, near Putin’s secret £1billion Gelendzhik lair, following the shoot down. Dramatic footage showed the drone hurtling towards tourists on the popular beach after being damaged by Putin’s defence gunners. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Plumes of grey smoke were seen rising from the site of the crash as panicked beachgoers fled the water. Many were seen cowering under sun loungers as the carnage unfolded. The explosion unfolded just 17 miles from Putin’s £1billion Gelendzhik palace Credit: East2West The drone seen moments before the blast Credit: East2West Holidaymakers at the beach complained there were no warning sirens. But air defence machine guns were reportedly heard moments before the blast. It is unclear what the drone was targeting – but Putin’s high-security palace is located just 17 miles along the coastline. Ukraine has not yet commented on the deadly drone explosion. Most read in The Sun One witness said: “I’m in complete shock. “We were on the beach, didn’t have time to leave, hid behind a ledge, covered ourselves with sun loungers, and didn’t see where it exploded.” Another bystander said: “While we were parking, we saw crowds of people leaving the beach, cars driving away. “A friend called me and said we had to turn around and leave because a drone had crashed. “We saw a man with a bloody shoulder.” A terror-struck tourist said: “I’m leaving here with my family. “This all happened in front of the children, and the child is having a nervous breakdown.” Putin’s clifftop palace in Gelendzhik boasts a wooden throne and previously featured a striptease stage with a pole dancing boudoir, it is believed. The lair includes a 16-storey underground complex and bunker – built inside the cliff to withstand nuclear attacks. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now