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Ukrainian drones have hit the port of Novorossiysk, causing fires and power outages, reports say.
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The attack follows increased defenses in the port following previous Ukrainian attacks on Crimea.
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Novorossiysk is crucial for Russia’s oil exports and naval operations in the Black Sea.
The Russian port of Novorossiysk, which has become an important base for the Black Sea Fleet after repeated attacks on its traditional base in Crimea, is being targeted by Ukrainian drones and missiles.
This attack follows earlier reports from the British Ministry of Defense indicating that Russia has strengthened defenses in the port of Novorossiysk to protect its Black Sea Fleet from possible Ukrainian attacks.
The Novorossiysk fuel oil terminal and the Transneft terminal were attacked on May 17 in yet another blow to Russia’s oil industry, the Kiev Independent reported.
The Kirillovskaya substation caught fire and more than 20,000 city residents were left without electricity, Russia’s Telegram news channel Astra reported.
Satellite images taken on May 18 show traces of a fire on the territory of the maritime trade port.
Astra reported that there were no casualties.
On May 19, footage emerged on social media showing two Ukrainian drones being targeted by machine gun fire as they flew over the port. Business Insider was unable to verify the video.
Residents of Novorossiysk told Astra that they heard more than 35 explosions in the city. The governor officially announced a “failed attack attempt by the Ukrainian armed forces” and the downing of ten UAVs.
The deputy mayor banned residents from leaving their homes early in the morning. Traffic was also blocked in the city and public transport was suspended.
The Russian Defense Ministry later said that 44 UAVs were shot down over the region overnight.
It appears that the attack on Novorossiysk was part of Ukraine’s largest ever drone strike.
In 2023, Russia moved most of its Black Sea Fleet ships from occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk after a series of Ukrainian attacks, including a significant missile attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol on September 22.
The Port of Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast in Krasnodar Krai is a strategic hub for oil exports and naval operations.
The recent wave of attacks on Russia’s oil industry includes a confirmed drone strike by Ukrainian forces on an oil base in Rostov Oblast on May 15.
As Ukraine maintains pressure on Russia in Crimea and the Black Sea region, its forces are struggling to fend off Russian advances along the eastern front, especially near Kharkov. Despite the progress made by Russian forces, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is not experiencing a shortage of artillery shells for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
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