A significant Ukrainian drone and missile attack on Russia's port city of Novorossiysk on Wednesday night resulted in casualties and damaged grain export terminals, according to reports. The strike also hit the last major Russian naval base on the Black Sea.
Three individuals, including an eight-year-old child, were killed and 24 others were injured in the coordinated assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had launched both rocket and underwater drones in what he described as a "unique operation" targeting the Russian naval base. While he did not specifically mention the grain terminals, Zelensky stated that "the occupying fleet and all the infrastructure that supports it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues."
Novorossiysk, one of Russia's largest ports, serves as the primary docking location for much of Russia's Black Sea fleet. The fleet was relocated from Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, which was deemed too vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks.
A major grain trading company confirmed to Russia's TASS news agency that its terminal had been affected. Reuters and Russian outlet RBK also received similar confirmations from other companies.
The Russian agriculture ministry indicated it was rerouting cargo flows to ports on the Baltic and Caspian Seas, as well as utilizing land routes, citing "current logistical constraints." The ministry did not directly attribute these constraints to the Ukrainian attack.
Explosions were reportedly heard throughout Novorossiysk during the night as air defenses engaged aerial objects. An emergency situation was declared in the city following the drone barrage, which reportedly struck areas around the port, damaged pipelines, and disrupted the water supply. In the surrounding Krasnodar region, "several hundred drones" reportedly struck overnight, damaging dozens of buildings, including residential homes. One man was killed by drone debris in the region, according to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
Separately, Moscow launched aerial strikes that killed at least 11 civilians overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. The city of Zaporizhzhia was particularly affected, with Russia using ballistic missiles and glide bombs.