During a large-scale strike on the russian port of Novorossiysk on the night of March 6, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces not only hit the Sheskharis oil terminal but also struck a Project 11356R Burevestnik-class frigate armed with Kalibr cruise missiles.
Footage of the strike was published by the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, on his official page.
Read more: Ukrainian Forces Hit Oil Terminal in Novorossiysk, Damage Be-12 Aircraft in Crimea
Subsequent clarification confirmed the vessel as Admiral Makarov. This indicates it was russia's last operational Kalibr-capable frigate in the Black Sea.
A month earlier, on the night of March 2,another frigate of the same class, Admiral Essen, was struck in Novorossiysk and sustained critical damage. Notably, the strike affected the ship's air defense missile system and surveillance radar, making it unlikely that the vessel could effectively shoot down drones, as seen in the footage of the recent attack.
Meanwhile, the third frigate of this class, Admiral Grigorovich, has not been in the Black Sea since 2021 and cannot re-enter due to the closure of the Bosphorus.
It is also possible to estimate where the drone was aimed before the signal was lost. The target appears to have been either the ship's bridge or the area directly in front of it, where the vertical launch system is located.
It is difficult to determine which target would have been more critical. Damage to the bridge could severely limit the vessel's ability to operate at sea, although combat functions are controlled from an internal command center. A strike on the launch cells, however, would directly disable the ship's primary combat capability.
Further assessment will require detailed satellite imagery of Novorossiysk. More broadly, it is becoming clear that Novorossiysk, where the russian fleet relocated, is also turning into a graveyard for russian naval assets.
Notably, on December 15, 2025, another Kalibr-capable platform, a Project 636.3 Kilo-class (Varshavyanka) submarine, was critically damaged by a Ukrainian Sub Sea Baby naval drone.
Read more: Ukrainian Strike on Novorossiysk: Admiral Essen Frigate, Valentin Pikul Minesweeper, Two More russian Vessels Damaged
