Key facts
- Ukraine conducted a large-scale drone and missile attack on Russia's Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk.
- The attack targeted air defenses, piers, and port infrastructure.
- Russia claimed to have downed over 500 Ukrainian drones.
- At least three people were killed in attacks on Russian territory.
- Russia also launched drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, causing casualties and damage.
Ukraine launched a significant nighttime operation using anti-ship missiles, aerial drones, and sea drones against Russia's key naval base in Novorossiysk, located in the Krasnodar region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as "unique" and stated that it targeted air defenses, piers, and other port infrastructure.
Russian authorities claimed their air defenses intercepted over 500 drones. However, regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that debris from downed drones caused damage to industrial plants and residential buildings, and resulted in at least three fatalities in the Krasnodar region. In Sevastopol, Crimea, Russian-appointed officials stated that 115 Ukrainian drones were downed, causing damage to residential buildings.
Concurrently, Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 138 long-range strike drones and missiles at various locations across Ukraine overnight. These Russian attacks resulted in casualties and damage, including the destruction of a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia and two deaths in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian officials view the success of their uncrewed fleet in limiting the Black Sea navy's movements as a major accomplishment of the war. The Novorossiysk base is considered the last major stronghold of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea and is adjacent to a key international oil terminal.