Drones Target Russia’s Novorossiysk Port

Unmanned aerial vehicles targeted the port of Novorossiysk, home to key assets of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, causing significant damage to infrastructure and sparking a large-scale fire.

According to Russian media, the attack occurred overnight on January 10–11, 2025. Residents reported at least seven strikes on port facilities. Local sources also noted that air defense systems in the area appeared to be non-operational at the time of the incident.

Drone strikes reportedly hit the Tambov, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Belgorod, and Kursk regions, as well as temporarily occupied Crimea.

Following the intensified use of naval drones by Ukrainian forces, the Russian Navy began relocating surface and submarine fleets from Crimea to Novorossiysk in an effort to reduce vulnerability to attacks. However, this relocation posed logistical challenges, particularly regarding the loading of Kalibr cruise missiles onto surface vessels.

In November 2024, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that the renewed use of Russian naval vessels suggested they had resolved these logistical issues. “The enemy has adapted to the new conditions,” he remarked during a national television broadcast.

Despite these adjustments, has remained a focal point for Ukrainian strikes. In mid-September 2024, reports indicated the installation of GPS jamming equipment near the port, causing discrepancies in the positioning data of Russian vessels recorded by the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

Earlier, on January 4, drones targeted Ust-Luga, Russia’s largest commercial seaport in the Leningrad region. According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, the port is crucial for bypassing sanctions and supporting military logistics.