Russia pulled its fleet back to Novorossiysk to keep it safe. Ukraine hit it there with 15 kinds of weapons at once
The overnight barrage fused jet drones, Neptune missiles and naval drones against the fleet's last major refuge.
On August 12, Ukraine launched a coordinated attack on the Novorossiysk naval base in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, marking the first time it utilized over 15 different strike systems in a single operation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the diverse array of weapons employed, including Palianytsia jet drones, Neptune anti-ship missiles, and naval drones.
The attack targeted warships, air defenses, and oil infrastructure at Russia's Black Sea Fleet's primary base. Novorossiysk became Russia's retreat after Ukrainian drones and missiles forced them out of occupied Crimea. The strike's success, despite heavy firing from air defenses, highlights the operational significance of the coordinated assault.
Zelenskyy credited the Ukrainian weapons developers for the extended range and praised the seamless coordination among various systems. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed hits on two Kalibr-carrying frigates (Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov) and the patrol ship Vasily Bykov, in addition to damage to an S-300 radar, a firing position on a port pier, the Sheskharis oil terminal, and three berths at the harbor.
The discrepancy in the number of ships hit ranges from three to four, with the General Staff including a Buyan-M missile ship among the vessels damaged. Zelenskyy's claims of a large landing ship and a corvette among the targets add further complexity to the tally.
Independent analysts, after reviewing satellite imagery, deemed the damage non-catastrophic, with no ships visibly burning or sinking. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that the impact assessment is still ongoing. The naval base's dwindling status reflects the broader campaign that has pushed Russia's fleet eastward, over 300 kilometers from the front lines but still within striking distance.
The operation extended beyond the base itself, prompting Russian authorities in Novorossiysk to declare a state of emergency, cut water supplies to the port city, and target infrastructure such as the Sheskharis oil terminal. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's commitment to striking such targets, emphasizing that only Russia can end the war it initiated.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
