Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck Russia’s naval base in Novorossiysk overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 12, using Palianytsia drone missiles, Neptune missiles, and maritime unmanned systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The attack targeted Russia’s main remaining Black Sea Fleet stronghold, located more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the front line, according to Zelensky.
“We have confirmed hits on air defense positions, piers and the infrastructure of the seaport,” Zelensky said in a statement posted to Telegram.
Ukraine targets Russia’s Black Sea stronghold
Zelensky described the operation as a unique strike against what he called Russia’s last major naval stronghold in the Black Sea.
According to Zelensky, the operation combined several types of Ukrainian-made and Ukrainian-operated weapons, including Palianytsia missile drones, Neptune missiles, and maritime unmanned systems.
The strike comes as Russia has increasingly relied on Novorossiysk after Ukraine’s repeated attacks on Russian naval assets and infrastructure in occupied Crimea.
Zelensky said the operation demonstrated that Russian naval forces and the infrastructure supporting them would remain vulnerable while Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine.
Strike comes amid pressure around Novorossiysk
The attack follows a recent dispute between Kyiv and Washington over Ukrainian strikes around Novorossiysk.
According to the Financial Times, US Vice President JD Vance asked Zelensky during a July 31 call to halt attacks on oil tankers using the port, particularly vessels linked to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) carrying Kazakh crude.
Ukraine subsequently agreed not to target CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels, unless they were under sanctions or carrying Russian cargo, the FT reported.
The US concern was linked to potential disruption of global oil markets and the interests of American companies involved in the CPC. Ukrainian attacks had reportedly reduced CPC oil loadings by more than 600,000 barrels per day from May levels.
The reported agreement did not prevent Ukraine from continuing attacks against Russian military infrastructure in and around Novorossiysk.
Ukraine continues long-range strikes
The Novorossiysk operation is part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to degrade Russian military infrastructure far behind the front line.
Kyiv has increasingly used domestically developed long-range drones and missiles to target Russian air defenses, naval facilities, energy infrastructure, and military logistics.
Zelensky said the latest operation was carried out by Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
“The occupying fleet and all the infrastructure supporting it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues,” Zelensky said.
He also reiterated Kyiv’s position that the war should end through diplomacy, saying that “all reasonable proposals for diplomacy are on the table.”