Ukraine bombs Russia’s Black Sea naval base with drones and missiles, Zelensky says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that his forces struck Russia’s Novorossiysk naval base overnight with drones, missiles, and unmanned boats, reports BritPanorama.
This offensive follows the recapture of 745 sq km of territory in the southeastern Oleksandrivka sector since the start of the year. Zelensky stated that this operation had brought 26 settlements back under Ukrainian control across the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, asserting that it was carried out “with precision – exactly as planned.”
The impact of Ukraine’s attacks was felt immediately, with two of Russia’s largest grain terminals in the Black Sea port city suspending operations in light of the drone strikes. Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of the Krasnodar region where Novorossiysk is located, reported a “massive” wave of Ukrainian attacks that resulted in at least two deaths, including that of an eight-year-old child.
Earlier this year, Ukraine had agreed to pause drone strikes on oil tankers using the Novorossiysk port following a request from US Vice President JD Vance, indicating the complexities of the ongoing conflict and military strategy in the region.
Russian military assets continue to be under pressure, with reports of significant Ukrainian advances in the ongoing battle for territory and resources, a stark reminder of the escalation of hostilities in 2025.
