Ukraine has struck Russia’s strategically important naval base at Novorossiysk and a major fuel terminal in a coordinated overnight drone attack, Kyiv said on Wednesday, as it intensified efforts to take the war deeper into Russian territory.
Ukraine’s General Staff said fires had broken out at the naval base and at the seaport’s fuel oil terminal following the attack on September 9. The full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation had targeted military and energy infrastructure in one of Russia’s most important Black Sea ports.
“We are responding to Russia’s daily terrorist attacks – effectively and across virtually the entire territory,” Zelensky said.
He added that a terminal used for oil shipments, military harbour facilities, warships and vessels capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles had been hit.
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The Novorossiysk naval base has become increasingly important to Moscow since repeated Ukrainian attacks forced elements of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet away from occupied Crimea. Ukraine said the facility provides maintenance and logistical support for Russian warships.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claimed separately that the Russian frigate Admiral Essen was burning following the strikes. The warship is capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, which Moscow has repeatedly used against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi said several military vessels, including missile carriers, had been struck during the operation. He also claimed Ukrainian forces had hit 13 vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea.
Russia’s authorities confirmed that Ukrainian drones had targeted Novorossiysk, although they did not acknowledge damage to military assets. Mayor Andrey Kravchenko said debris from intercepted drones had fallen near industrial facilities and residential buildings.
💥🔥 Through the night, the Russian port infrastructure of Novorossiysk was attacked. pic.twitter.com/fG6ZKTQRCH
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) September 9, 2026
The attack also caused civilian casualties. Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said four people, including a child, had been killed and 29 injured in the drone assault, according to reports cited by international media.
The strikes underline Kyiv’s expanding campaign against Russian military and energy infrastructure, aimed at disrupting Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its invasion as the conflict enters another winter.
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