The russian port city of Novorossiysk, where Moscow relocated much of its Black Sea Fleet following repeated Ukrainian strikes in Crimea, came under a major drone attack on Tuesday morning. The cityєs mayor, Andrey Kravchenko, confirmed the incident via Telegram, announcing an air raid alert.
The attack underscores the growing reach of Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems, which continue to target russia's military infrastructure deep inside its territory. Novorossiysk, located on the Black Sea in Krasnodar region, has become a key logistics and naval hub for the fleet since Sevastopol proved increasingly vulnerable.
Read more: Ukraine Strikes russia's Fuel and Drone Infrastructure in Volgograd, Bashkortostan, and Belgorod
Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev later described the incident as a "terrible attack by the Kyiv regime". According to his statement, several drones managed to strike the city center, highlighting both the intensity and precision of the operation.
Preliminary reports suggest at least two people were killed and three others injured in the strike. Veniamin Kondratyev also reported that five residential buildings and a hotel suffered damage during the attack. While russian officials emphasized civilian impact, the presence of key naval assets in Novorossiysk raises questions about potential military losses as well.
The use of drones in such deep strikes reflects Ukraine's continued adaptation to asymmetric warfare, targeting both strategic infrastructure and psychological pressure points. By striking Novorossiysk, Ukraine sends a message that russia's supposed "safe zones" on the Black Sea coast are now within reach.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian long-range drones have delivered a powerful strike on the Molkino training ground in Krasnodar Krai, destroying six vehicles belonging to the Iskander short-range ballistic missile system.
The attack, which took place in the latter part of August with the use of 14 drones, was documented by photos taken by russian troops themselves and later published by the Dosye Shpiona project.
Read more: Ukrainian Drones Deliver Unprecedented Blow to the Iskander System Brigade
