(Reuters) – Ukrainian sea drones launched an attack on a Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a key hub for Russian exports, early on Friday. The Russian defence ministry has confirmed that Russian warships successfully destroyed the drones.
This attack resulted in the temporary suspension of all ship movements at the Novorossiysk port, as reported by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which manages an oil terminal there.
Social media users in Russia reported hearing explosions and gunfire in the vicinity of Novorossiysk on Friday morning. If confirmed, this would mark the first Ukrainian attack on one of Russia’s primary commercial ports.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, responsible for loading oil onto tankers in Novorossiysk, has announced that the port has temporarily halted all ship movements. Nevertheless, the Consortium has assured that its facilities remain undamaged and oil loadings onto tankers already in the port continue as planned.
Videos circulating on a local online community, as well as those posted by Russian news outlet Astra, depict ships just off the coast, accompanied by the sound of gunfire originating from the sea.
The emergency services in Novorossiysk have received confirmation of the reported explosions, and the incident has been reported to the security services, according to Russia’s RIA news agency. Notably, the Novorossiysk port is one of the largest ports in the Black Sea.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium serves as the primary exporter of Kazakh crude.
Clashes in the Black Sea and nearby ports have been intensifying since Russia’s refusal last month to extend a deal that allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports. As a result, Russian drones and missiles have targeted various Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos in or near the Black Sea.
Russia has also reported an attack by Ukrainian sea drones on its warships, which were escorting a civilian vessel.
Furthermore, Russian air defences were successful in downing 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea on Friday morning, and an additional three drones were neutralized using electronic countermeasures, as stated by the Russian defence ministry according to TASS.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Tom Hogue, Kim Coghill and Michael Perry)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
