Ukraine's Naval Drones Target Russian Black Sea Fleet's New Hideout

Ukraine's naval drones targeted the city of Novorossiysk that hosts a key naval base for Russia's Black Sea fleet on Thursday.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said its military destroyed two of the sea drones "in the north-eastern part of the Black Sea."

The city's mayor Andrey Kravchenko told residents near the coastline not to approach windows and to stay away from open spaces.

The Context

Russia has relocated much of its prized Black Sea fleet from Sevastopol in Crimea to ports in Novorossiysk and Feodosia amid the threat of Ukrainian strikes on its vessels. The port city is a key hub for Russia's military logistics.

What We Know

"An attack by unmanned boats is being repelled. Special attention to residents of the first coastline—do not go outside!" Kravchenko said.

Russian Telegram channels also reported shots and explosions in Novorossiysk, sharing video footage of the reported attack.

"Naval surface drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Novorossiysk," the ASTRA Telegram channel, a project run by independent Russian journalists, said.

Ukraine has ramped up its attacks on Russia's ships using its Magura V5 maritime drones in recent months.

In May, Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate said they had caused $500 million worth of damage to Russia's naval vessels throughout the war.

The Magura V5 drone is the "main and best weapon available to Ukraine" to target the Black Sea fleet, HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov said.

Ukraine's military has two other sea drones capable of reaching Novorossiysk—Sea Baby and Kozak Mamai—the Kyiv Post reported.

The aftermath of the attack remains unclear. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.

In August 2023, Ukrainian naval drones attacked a military base in Novorossiysk, damaging and disabling Russia's large landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak from its Northern Fleet. It had been used to transport troops and military equipment.

The last time Novorossiysk was targeted by naval drones was in July, when the Russian Defense Ministry said two naval drones heading toward the city were destroyed in the Black Sea.

The Crimea-based Telegram channel Crimean Wind questioned Moscow's version of events. It published satellite imagery that purportedly showed fires which broke out at a Novorossiysk port.

Later, a "binge-drinking" Russian Navy commander was blamed for the attack by a Russian naval military blogger with the username "Battle Sailor" on Telegram.

The military blogger anticipated a future attack by Ukrainian naval drones on the city, saying there is "one high-ranking official who periodically goes on a drinking binge throughout the war and then lays under IVs [intravenous drips]."

"Almost everyone knows about him. If you get drunk again, your own officers will disgrace you right in your office, and I will help them spread it," the military blogger wrote. "I can no longer tolerate this obscene attitude towards naval service."

"P.S. the enemy has conducted reconnaissance in force, we should probably expect a more massive attack," the post concluded.

What's Next?

A third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has so far been disabled, Ukraine has said. Kyiv's forces are likely to continue to target the naval fleet amid a push to reverse to Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

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