The Russian port of Novorossiysk, located on the Black Sea coast, was targeted by Ukrainian drones in a recent attack. The Novorossiysk Fuel oil terminal and Transneft terminal were hit on May 17, causing a fire at the Kirillovskaya substation and leaving over 20 thousand city residents without electricity. Satellite images taken the following day showed evidence of a fire on the port's premises. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in the attack.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show Ukrainian drones being shot down by machine gun fire over the port, although the authenticity of the video could not be verified. Residents of Novorossiysk reported hearing multiple explosions in the city, prompting the governor to announce an "unsuccessful attempt to attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces" and the downing of 10 UAVs. As a precaution, the deputy mayor imposed restrictions on residents, including a ban on leaving their homes and the suspension of public transport.
Russia's Ministry of Defense confirmed that a total of 44 UAVs were shot down over the region during the night of the attack. This incident is believed to be part of Ukraine's largest drone attack ever, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
The port of Novorossiysk plays a crucial role in Russia's oil exports and naval operations, making it a strategic target for Ukrainian forces. This attack comes amidst a series of strikes on Russia's oil industry, including a drone strike on an oil base in Rostov Oblast just two days prior.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, both sides continue to engage in military actions across various fronts. Despite Russian advances on the eastern front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Ukraine is not experiencing a shortage of artillery shells for the first time since the start of the invasion.