Russia Strikes Hit Naval Base and Oil Terminal in Novorossiysk
Russia strikes targeted the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk overnight on Aug. 12 in a large-scale Ukrainian drone and missile attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a "unique operation" against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's naval base, piers and air-defense positions. Explosions rocked Russia's Novorossiysk port on the Black Sea after the assault more than 300 km from the front line.
Major Ukrainian Attack Hits Novorossiysk Naval Base
Ukrainian forces carried out the strike using Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles and naval drones, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. [5] The operation targeted Russian air-defense positions, piers and port infrastructure at the naval base in Novorossiysk. [1] Zelensky stated that the occupation fleet and all infrastructure supporting it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues. [1] Novorossiysk serves as a major Russian port on the Black Sea and hosts a naval base for the Black Sea Fleet, which Russia has relocated in part from occupied Crimea following prior Ukrainian attacks. [1]
Casualties and Damage in Krasnodar Krai
Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that the region was hit by several hundred drones, with strikes in Novorossiysk, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Temryuksky district. [1] An 8-year-old boy was killed and eight people including a child were injured in the attack on Novorossiysk. [1] Falling drone debris damaged 21 residential buildings and four businesses. [1] Eyewitnesses reported fires at a grain terminal, the Sheskharis oil terminal and port infrastructure serving Russia's Black Sea Fleet. [1] The grain terminal sustained damage and temporarily suspended operations. [1]
Ukrainian drone and missile strikes hit Russian naval base and oil terminal in Novorossiysk. — Source: newsmax
Strikes Reported Across Occupied Crimea
Explosions were reported near the Balaklava Thermal Power Plant outside Sevastopol. [1] Multiple explosions, machine-gun fire and drones overhead were noted in nearby Bakhchysarai. [1] A military unit in northern Crimea was reportedly on fire. [1] A large-scale drone attack was also reported near the Crimean Bridge connecting the occupied peninsula with Russia's Krasnodar Krai. [1]
Russian Air Defense Claims
Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its air defenses destroyed 502 Ukrainian drones overnight on Aug. 12 over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk and Oryol regions, Krasnodar Krai, Russian-occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. [1]
Related Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil and Military Targets
The Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Orsk halted operations on 11 August after a Ukrainian drone attack damaged its processing units. [3] The facility has a nameplate capacity of 5.76 million tonnes per year and processed 4.2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2024. [3] Ukraine's General Staff reported strikes on a cluster of Russian military personnel from an unmanned systems unit near Marivka in Luhansk Oblast. [4] Additional strikes hit a ground-based relay station used to control Geran/Gerbera attack UAVs near Olenivka in temporarily occupied Crimea and a Russian military repair unit near Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast. [4]
Pause in Tanker Strikes at U.S. Request
Ukraine has paused drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a request from Vice President JD Vance. [2]
What to watch next: Further Ukrainian operations against Russian naval infrastructure in Novorossiysk and occupied Crimea remain possible, as Zelensky indicated the fleet and supporting facilities will not be safe while aggression continues.
