Ukrainian forces mounted a large drone strike on Novorossiysk early Friday, damaging a ship in port, hitting apartment blocks, and igniting a blaze at one of Russia’s most important oil terminals in the Black Sea – the latest in a growing series of attacks on Russian coastal infrastructure.
Regional officials in Krasnodar said three crewmembers aboard a “civilian vessel” were injured after UAV debris fell onto the ship. They were taken to hospital for treatment. Drone fragments also struck at least four apartments, smashing windows but causing no casualties, according to local authorities. A fire at the Sheskharis transshipment complex – one of Russia’s key crude and oil products hubs – was brought under control by emergency crews, though satellite fire-monitoring data reviewed by security firm Ambrey showed multiple heat signatures around the port.
Unverified footage circulating on Russian social media platforms showed large explosions, thick smoke, and flames rising from the terminal area. No damage to merchant vessels has been confirmed.
The strike on Novorossiysk follows a string of Ukrainian attacks on Russian Black Sea ports in recent weeks, part of a campaign designed to disrupt Russia’s logistics, fuel supply, and naval operations.
Splash reported recently of a significant UAV and maritime drone strike on Tuapse, a vital refinery and export terminal on the eastern Black Sea coast, which set storage tanks ablaze and temporarily halted operations. Satellite imagery at the time showed widespread fire damage, while Russian authorities sought to downplay the extent of the disruption. Tuapse has been hit multiple times this year, reflecting its importance to Russia’s oil export network and naval resupply chain.
Analysts note that strikes have also been recorded near Feodosia, Sevastopol, and infrastructure linked to Russia’s military logistics on the Kerch peninsula, reinforcing a pattern of Kyiv targeting high-value coastal assets far from the front line.
Ambrey, which tracks maritime security incidents globally, said Friday’s attack on Novorossiysk involved multiple UAVs, with several explosions observed at the Sheskharis terminal, where Transneft’s pipelines end.
Novorossiysk is among Russia’s most strategically important energy and export ports, handling crude from the CPC pipeline, refined products, and grain.
Russian Oil Terminal Port Novorossiysk just got annihilated by Ukraine!!! pic.twitter.com/3VOxyjJxOr
