Ukrainian missiles and drones struck a major Russian naval base on the Black Sea coast in a "unique" nighttime operation, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Kyiv officials stated that cutting-edge drones, developed since Russia's full-scale invasion, have repeatedly targeted Russian ships, successfully limiting the movements of Russia's Black Sea navy. The operation on Wednesday targeted air defenses, piers, and other port infrastructure at the Novorossiysk naval base, which serves as the last major stronghold for the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
Russia relocated most of its ships to Novorossiysk after Ukrainian strikes on the base at Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula earlier in the war. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that hundreds of Ukrainian drones attacked Novorossiysk, Anapa, and Gelendzhik, as well as the Temryuk district, overnight. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses downed more than 500 Ukrainian drones.
Authorities reported that an 8-year-old child was killed in Novorossiysk, and another person injured in the Temryuk region died later in the hospital. Twelve other people in the region were wounded. Debris from downed drones reportedly fell on industrial plants and residential buildings.
Novorossiysk is also home to the Grushovaya oil terminal, a significant international hub for petroleum products in southern Russia. In February, the U.S. State Department expressed concern that Ukrainian attacks on Novorossiysk could affect U.S. oil interests in Kazakhstan, as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles crude exports from Kazakh fields with stakes held by U.S. energy companies, operates a pipeline to Novorossiysk.
On the Crimean Peninsula, Russian-installed authorities reported that air defenses downed 115 Ukrainian drones over Sevastopol overnight, damaging apartment buildings and private houses. Ukraine's air force stated that Russia launched 138 long-range drones and an unspecified number of missiles during the night, with damage recorded at 16 locations.
In the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, a large-scale Russian drone attack overnight resulted in two deaths and two injuries, according to regional head Oleksandr Prokudin. The attacks also destroyed a shopping mall in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian intelligence reports, cited by Zelenskyy, suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin plans "an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year." These reports also indicate Russia is expanding production of ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, which are difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to counter. Ukraine is also working to increase its weapons manufacturing through agreements with partner countries.
However, Russian officials have not indicated any plans for a major call-up of forces. Some officials have accused Kyiv of spreading rumors to destabilize the situation within Russia. Following a widely unpopular partial mobilization of about 300,000 men in September 2022, Russia has primarily relied on volunteers attracted by higher pay. The original decree remains open-ended, allowing for future mobilizations if deemed necessary.