Explosion Rips Through Russian Black Sea Port in Major Aerial Attack

A Russian port that hosts Moscow's Black Sea Fleet was hit in a drone attack with video showing the fiery aftermath of the attacks, according to reports.

Eyewitnesses cited by the Ukrainian outlet United24 Media reported explosions at the port of Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar territory and drones also hit targets in the Russian border regions of Voronezh, Kursk, Tambov, Belgorod, as well as in occupied Crimea.

Russia's Defense Ministry said there was a widespread drone attack launched by Ukraine but that there was no damage as its air defenses had intercepted dozens of devices, per Russian Telegram channels.

Newsweek is unable to verify the details and has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment.

Sailors on the deck of a Russian Black Sea Fleet warship during the Navy Day celebrations in the port city of Novorossiysk on July 30, 2023. Novorossiysk was hit in a drone attack overnight January... Getty Images

Why it matters

Often without claiming direct responsibility, Ukraine has used drones and missiles to strike targets inside Russia which are linked to its war machine. Drone strikes on Sevastopol have forced Russia to move much of its naval fleet from Crimea to the Krasnodar region thus losing control of much of the Black Sea.

Strikes on the port at Novorossiysk not only highlight Russian air defense vulnerabilities but suggest nowhere is safe.

What to know

Residents in the city of Anapa reported that warning systems had sounded amid a massive drone attack that started at 12.30 a.m. Saturday, according to reports on Russian Telegram channels.

At least seven strikes hit port facilities while local sources suggested to the channels that air defense systems in the area seemed not to be working.

Online footage showed at least one explosion and a fire with social media users saying that Novorossiysk's port had been hit.

Russia said that Ukraine's armed forces had launched 85 drones overnight, 31 of which were destroyed over the Black Sea. Another 16 drones were shot down over the Voronezh region and the Krasnodar Territory and 14 over the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian outlets reported that drones also hit targets in the Russian border regions of Voronezh, Kursk, Tambov, Belgorod and Crimea.

Meanwhile, Moscow's forces continued with their barrage on Ukraine, launching 74 drones overnight from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Orel, Bryansk and Prymorsko-Akhtars, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Ukraine's military said its air defense forces downed 47 drones in 10 regions across the country, including Poltava, Sumy and Kharkiv, with falling wreckage damaging buildings and houses. Another 27 drones disappeared from radar.

What people are saying

Pro-Ukrainian X user Jason Jay Smart posted: "Ukraine successfully attacked the Russian Naval port in Novorossiysk, Russia. The White House had forbidden Ukraine from attacking the port... Seems now that the White House cannot defend Russia, all bets are off."

Russia's Defense Ministry said: "Air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 85 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight."

What happens next

Ukraine is likely to continue its drone strikes on Russian military infrastructure as Moscow considers the serious threat that drones pose to its Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk had said in November that Russia had adapted to the new location of its Black Sea Fleet by relocating surface and submarine fleets to Novorossiysk to protect against attacks.