Drones Hit Strategic Russian Oil Export Terminal, Disrupting Black Sea Logistics

In the early morning of Monday, March 2, the Russian port city of Novorossiysk came under a coordinated attack by unidentified aerial and maritime drones.

According to local Telegram channels, the first explosions were recorded around 10:50 PM Kyiv time on Sunday. The strike resulted in a significant fire within the city’s port infrastructure.

While local Russian authorities remained reserved regarding the specific targets, independent OSINT analysis suggests a direct hit on a critical energy facility. According to the ASTRA Telegram channel, which analyzed eyewitness footage and local chat reports, the fire occurred at the Shesharis oil terminal.

The Shesharis complex is a primary asset of Transneft, the world’s largest oil pipeline company. This terminal serves as a strategic hub for the Russian Federation, handling the receipt, storage, and shipment of crude oil for international export.

Novorossiysk Mayor Andrey Kravchenko confirmed the attack via social media, stating that:

“Two apartment buildings and five private houses were damaged, and fires broke out at two addresses.”

The Ukrainian military command has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike. However, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD), released a video of the explosion with the caption: “Novorossiysk. Terrible.”

Earlier, Ukrainian drones struck a key Russian military fuel depot in occupied Luhansk, triggering a massive fire visible across the city. According to OSINT channel Exilenova+ and a Ukrainian drone brigade, the attack targeted a logistical hub supplying Russian forces in the Kupiansk and Kramatorsk regions, marking the second strike on the facility in recent weeks.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense