Ukraine Launches Nighttime Strikes on Russian Naval Base in Black Sea Ukrainian anti-ship missiles and drones executed a major nighttime operation targeting a key Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, a critical stronghold on the Black Sea coast, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The attack, described as “unique” by Zelenskyy, focused on air defenses, piers, and port infrastructure, marking one of Ukraine’s most significant achievements in the war. The operation followed earlier strikes on Sevastopol, Crimea, which had previously forced Russia to relocate much of its Black Sea fleet to Novorossiysk. Zelenskyy highlighted the use of advanced drones developed by Ukraine since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, which have repeatedly targeted Russian ships, including warships and oil tankers. These strikes have reportedly limited the mobility of Russia’s once-dominant Black Sea navy. However, Zelenskyy warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains determined to escalate the war, citing intelligence reports of a planned “additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year.” The reports also indicate Russia is expanding production of ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, which pose a significant challenge to Ukrainian air defenses. The attack on Novorossiysk, which is also home to the Grushovaya oil terminal—a major international hub for petroleum products—caused widespread damage. Ukrainian forces reportedly struck two of the city’s three grain terminals, with one halting operations. Russian state media, however, claimed its air defenses downed over 500 Ukrainian drones.#ukraine #vladimir_putin #volodymyr_zelenskyy #novorossiysk #russian_naval_base
