4 Russian Warships Struck in Novorossiysk

During an overnight operation at Novorossiysk naval base in Russia's Krasnodar region, Ukraine's Defense Forces targeted four Russian warships, as confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraine's Security Service. The night of Wednesday, Aug. 12, marked the joint operation, targeting a Project 11356 frigate, "Admiral Makarov" and "Admiral Essen," a Project 21631 small missile ship "Buyan-M," and a Project 22160 patrol ship "Vasily Bykov."

The General Staff acknowledged that Ukraine's Defense Forces were diminishing Russia's capability to continue its armed aggression, although the full extent of the damage remained undisclosed as each vessel was still under inspection. Additionally, a 30N6E radar, part of an S-300 surface-to-air missile system, was hit, alongside a mobile fire team on pier No. 2 and damage to the tunnel portal of the Hrushova oil depot leading to the Sheskharis terminal. Pier Nos. 3, 6, and 7 also suffered infrastructural damage.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his statement, attributed the operation to Ukraine's domestically-made Palianytsia drones and Neptune missiles. The naval base, located on the Black Sea over 186 miles from the frontline, was the primary target of the "unique operation" conducted by Ukraine's defense forces. Russian authorities declared an emergency following the attack, which caused infrastructure disruption, disabled the water supply, and ignited multiple fires.

Novorossiysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko announced the emergency declaration after the drone alert lifted overnight. The attack led to the rupture of two major water pipelines, prompting authorities to suspend water supplies to the city. Multiple fires were reported, but the extent of damage remained unspecified.