Ukrainian forces carried out a massive drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on the night of August 11-12, 2026. According to reports from the ground, the attack came shortly after Ukraine launched around 400 unmanned aerial vehicles at various targets. Russian air defense and mobile fire groups spent hours trying to repel the strike, with loud explosions echoing across the city.
The attack on the strategically important port has been confirmed by multiple sources, including Russian military bloggers and Ukrainian analytical channels. Social media footage shows beams of searchlights and tracers from machine-gun fire in the sky above the city, while residents reported a multi-hour ordeal. Meanwhile, authorities warned of the threat of unmanned boat attacks in nearby Gelendzhik.
Damage and Casualties
According to information from the Operational Headquarters of Krasnodar Krai, as reported by the RVvoenkor channel, six residential buildings, one commercial building, and one construction site were damaged in the attack. It has been confirmed that there are injured individuals receiving medical assistance, though the exact number has not been specified.
In the village of Volna in the Temryuk district, fragments of a downed drone fell into the yard of a private house, injuring one person. Operational and special services were deployed at all locations.
Roads Closed and Air Traffic Suspended
Due to the attack, the mayor of Novorossiysk, A. Kravchenko, announced that the road between Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik has been closed. Traffic towards Gelendzhik has been halted from the intersection of Sukhumskoye Shosse and Karyernaya Street, as well as from the direction of Kabardinka towards Novorossiysk. Additionally, operations at Gelendzhik Airport have been temporarily suspended, and visitors and residents have been ordered to leave the beaches and seek shelter.
The attack on Novorossiysk, a key Russian port for oil and grain exports, represents another escalation in the conflict and demonstrates Ukraine's ability to strike targets deep within Russian territory. There has been no official comment from the Ukrainian military on this operation so far.