Ukrainian strikes cripple Novorossiysk grain terminals and Russian Black Sea fleet

A large-scale Ukrainian drone and missile assault targeted Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, inflicting damage on two key grain export terminals and the remaining major Russian naval base in the region, according to multiple reports.

The attack resulted in three fatalities, including an eight‑year‑old child, and left 24 individuals injured, local authorities said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv employed rockets, jet‑drones and naval drones in what he described as a “unique operation” aimed at striking Russian military assets. He did not specifically reference the grain terminal damages.

Ukraine’s armed forces later reported that four Russian warships, among them two frigates, had been hit. Moscow has not yet commented on the incident.

“As long as Russian aggression continues, the occupying fleet and all supporting infrastructure will remain vulnerable,” Zelensky posted on social media.

Novorossiysk now houses most of Russia’s Black Sea fleet after the loss of its Sevastopol base in occupied Crimea, which was exposed to Ukrainian strikes. A leading grain trade firm confirmed to TASS that its terminal was struck, while another company verified the damage to Reuters and RBK.

Russia’s agriculture ministry announced plans to reroute cargoes through Baltic and Caspian Sea ports, as well as overland routes, citing logistical challenges. The ministry made no direct reference to Ukraine’s assault.

Explosions echoed across Novorossiysk throughout the night as air‑defence systems intercepted aerial threats. An emergency was declared after strikes damaged pipelines, cutting the city’s water supply.

In the broader Krasnodar region, a man was killed by drone debris, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev, who reported “several hundred drones” striking the area. Dozens of structures, including homes, were damaged.

Separate Russian strikes killed at least 11 civilians in Ukraine during the same period, most in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where ballistic missiles and glide bombs caused the casualties.

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