Explosions rock Russia's Novorossiysk, occupied Crimea amid reported drone attack

Drone attacks targeted the Russian port city of Novorossiysk and Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on August 12, according to independent monitoring sources. Residents in Novorossiysk reported a series of explosions as Russian air defenses attempted to thwart the ongoing drone assault. Russian state media claimed that drone debris damaged six residential buildings, a commercial structure, and a construction site, resulting in casualties, though the extent of injuries was not immediately disclosed.

Novorossiysk, a major Black Sea port and home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, recently became a staging ground for relocated naval assets following Ukrainian attacks on Russian warships and naval infrastructure in Crimea. Reports of explosions also emerged across occupied Crimea. Near Sevastopol's Balaklava Thermal Power Plant, multiple explosions and gunfire were heard, while Bakhchysarai residents reported a series of explosions, machine-gun fire, and aerial drones throughout the night.

Additionally, a significant drone attack was reportedly targeting the Crimean Bridge, which links the occupied peninsula with Russia's Krasnodar Krai. However, the veracity of these claims remains unconfirmed, as Ukrainian authorities have not publicly addressed the allegations.