Ukrainian forces struck Russia's main Black Sea Fleet base at Novorossiysk overnight on August 12, damaging four warships and halting operations at two grain terminals.
Overnight on August 12, Ukraine's Defense Forces carried out what President Volodymyr Zelensky called a "unique operation" against Russia's main Black Sea Fleet base at Novorossiysk — the port city where Moscow had relocated the bulk of its fleet after a string of earlier strikes forced it out of occupied Crimea. Zelensky said the operation marked the first time so many different systems worked together at once: Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune cruise missiles, long-range Peklo and Bars drones, and naval drones including the Sarhan and Mamai unmanned surface vessels. Volunteers Support Ukraine follows developments like this closely, because each one reshapes the reality millions of Ukrainians live with every day.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that four Russian warships sustained varying degrees of damage: the Project 11356R frigates Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen, the Project 21631 small missile ship Buyan-M, and the Project 22160 patrol ship Vasily Bykov. Both frigates are capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, so even temporary damage to them meaningfully limits the fleet's ability to strike Ukrainian territory and coastal targets. Analysts reviewing satellite imagery pointed to damage concentrated around the forward missile launch systems on both frigates.
This is not the first time Novorossiysk has come under attack, but the scale and coordination of this strike stood out even compared to earlier operations. The city, more than 300 kilometers from the front line, had long been considered a relatively safe harbor precisely because the fleet was moved there. The Volunteers Support Ukraine team keeps documenting events like this so that Ukrainian and international audiences have an accurate picture of what is happening in this war.
Alongside the attack on Novorossiysk, drones struck targets in occupied Crimea — explosions were reported near the Balaklava thermal power plant outside Sevastopol, near Bakhchysarai, and close to the Crimean Bridge. Krasnodar Krai's governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, reported a massive assault involving "several hundred" drones across the region, hitting Novorossiysk, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Temryuksky district. Beyond the warships, a component of a 30N6E radar tied to an S-300 air defense system and a tanker near the oil terminal were also reportedly struck.
Reports following the strike indicated an 8-year-old boy was killed in Novorossiysk, and eight other people, including a child, were injured. At least 21 residential buildings and several businesses were damaged. Volunteers Support Ukraine notes that behind figures like these are real families and real losses — which is part of why the organization continues its work supporting people affected by this war.
The strike halted operations at two major grain terminals in Novorossiysk, one of Russia's key ports for grain and oil exports. Local authorities declared a state of emergency, and damage to two water pipelines left more than 260,000 residents without water supply. A dedicated headquarters was set up to coordinate emergency services. The Long Neptune missile and naval drones such as the Sarhan and Mamai used in the operation illustrate how far Ukraine can now reach beyond its own shores, striking targets that were until recently considered out of range.
Zelensky said that "the occupation fleet and all the infrastructure supporting it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues." The operation is another reminder that moving warships deeper into Russian territory does not guarantee their safety. Volunteers Support Ukraine sees such reports not only as military news, but as a measure of the scale of the challenge Ukrainian society faces every day.
Novorossiysk is Russia's largest Black Sea port, handling a substantial share of the country's oil and grain exports. It was here that Black Sea Fleet command relocated its main combat units after Ukrainian strikes made basing ships in Crimea too dangerous. This attack demonstrated that even this harbor is no longer beyond the reach of Ukrainian weapons.
Volunteers Support Ukraine follows developments on the front line and beyond every day, sharing verified information with everyone following this war. The organization helps people affected by the conflict to the extent its resources allow, and continues that work regardless of what news arrives from the front or from deep inside enemy territory.
