The attack on Novorossiysk is the first against a Russian trading port in the 18-month war. The port — which is home to a naval base, shipyards and an oil terminal and is key to Russian exports — is across the Black Sea from Crimea, where the Kremlin’s Defense Ministry said it thwarted another overnight attack by shooting down 13 planes. unmanned.
The Security Service and the Navy of Ukraine carried out the attack in Novorossiysk, a Service official said, and the landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak suffered a major breach. As a consequence, the vessel will not be able to carry out combat missions, added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to report to the media.
Ukrainian news agencies released images on social media channels that they suggested showed the ship Olenegorsky Gornyak listing on its side. The ship is designed to transport troops and heavy equipment and underwent repairs in 2014, according to Russian media reports. Her usual base is in the Northern Fleet, in the Arctic.
Russia, however, said it thwarted the attack on Novorossiysk and that ships patrolling the perimeter of the naval base, including the Olenegorsky Gornyak, destroyed two maritime drones. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates an oil terminal at the port, said shipping was suspended for a few hours and its facilities were not damaged. The governor of the region indicated that there were no victims.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the attack during a news conference with reporters.
Videos posted on Russian social media appeared to show a ship firing into the sea and a flaming object exploding. A nighttime recording of what was identified as a maritime drone, hovering near the vessel, was also posted on Ukrainian social media channels. The Associated Press was unable to verify the authenticity of the videos.
Friday’s incident is the latest in a series of attacks inside Russian territory. Earlier in the week, drones hit a building in Moscow and another reached the Kremlin in May without causing damage.
The assault comes at a time when the Black Sea is gaining prominence as a battleground after Russia’s withdrawal from an agreement that allowed Ukrainian grain exports through that sea. Since leaving the pact, Moscow has attacked Ukrainian ports, compounding the consequences for global food markets.
Minutes after confirming the attack on the Black Sea port, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had repelled another Ukrainian offensive in Crimea, the Kremlin-annexed peninsula. Air defense systems shot down 10 drones and electronically jammed three others, he explained.
Other videos shared on Russian social media channels allegedly recorded in the vicinity of the Crimean city of Feodosia showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft defense systems in operation, as well as powerful explosions.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
