High-speed passenger hydrofoil boat makes its first seasonal voyage from Sochi to Sukhumi — Saturday 16 May 2026A high-speed passenger hydrofoil named Kometa has launched its first seasonal voyage from the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi to Sukhumi in Abkhazia. The vessel departed on Friday, restoring a direct maritime link that operates during the warmer months and serves both local travelers and tourists seeking quicker passage across the region. The service underscores ongoing efforts to maintain practical connections between Russia and the breakaway territory despite broader regional frictions. Abkhazia, recognized only by Russia and a handful of other states, remains formally part of Georgia under international law. The hydrofoil route therefore carries political weight alongside its commercial purpose, reinforcing Moscow’s economic and logistical presence in a territory whose status continues to complicate relations between Russia and Georgia as well as with Western capitals. For residents and visitors, the vessel offers a faster alternative to longer overland journeys that require crossing contested borders. From a wider perspective, the resumption of the Sochi-Sukhumi sailings reflects Russia’s interest in sustaining tourism revenue and transport infrastructure in the North Caucasus and adjacent areas. Global observers note that such links can ease daily movement yet also entrench de facto separation, leaving the underlying dispute over Abkhazia’s future unresolved and subject to shifting diplomatic pressures.Watch the full video from Associated Press below.