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Ukraine launched a “unique” overnight drone and missile operation targeting Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and the major naval base at Novorossiysk, Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. The attack reportedly damaged port infrastructure, two major grain export terminals and several Russian warships. Ukrainian officials said four Russian warships, including two frigates, were hit. Three people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed and another 24 injured in the attacks across the Krasnodar region, according to local officials. Several residential buildings and other facilities were also damaged.
Ukraine Targets Russia's Last Major Black Sea Naval Base
Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian military used rockets as well as air and naval drones to strike the Novorossiysk naval base, which has become the main Russian Black Sea Fleet base after Moscow moved many of its ships from Sevastopol in occupied Crimea following repeated Ukrainian attacks.
The Ukrainian military said the operation targeted the naval base, air defenses, piers and other port infrastructure. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses had downed more than 500 Ukrainian drones, while Russian authorities reported widespread damage across the region.
The strikes also affected Novorossiysk's grain infrastructure. Two of the city's three grain terminals were damaged, with one halting operations, according to Russian reports. Russia's agriculture ministry said it was working to redirect cargo flows toward ports in the Baltic and Caspian seas as well as land routes.
Novorossiysk is also a major oil hub and home to the Grushovaya oil terminal. No reports indicated that the oil terminal had been hit.
The attacks came as Ukraine and Russia continued exchanging strikes across the Black Sea. Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones and missiles to target Russian territory and naval assets, while Russia has continued striking Ukrainian ports and shipping infrastructure.
Russia also launched overnight attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed at least 11 civilians between Tuesday and Wednesday, with casualties reported in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The fighting has renewed concerns over global grain supplies. Russia and Ukraine are major participants in the global grain trade, particularly for markets in North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of targeting Russian grain and agricultural infrastructure, while saying Moscow would continue striking facilities it says are being used by Ukraine's armed forces in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
The 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports to pass through maritime corridors, ended after Russia resumed attacks on vessels using routes to Odesa.
