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Ukraine Turns Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Into a Sitting Target With Relentless Drone Strikes
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, already pushed out of key waters by Ukrainian maritime drones, is now facing growing threats inside its own main port at Novorossiysk, according to NavalNews on April 9.
On April 5, Ukrainian drones struck a Russian frigate inside the port. The vessel is believed to have been the Admiral Essen, one of only two remaining Project 11356M frigates still operating in the Black Sea.
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These ships represent some of Russia’s largest surface combatants in the region following the sinking of the cruiser Moskva in April 2022.
The frigate was armed with Kalibr cruise missiles and was likely preparing for strikes against Ukraine. It had been positioned near the outer breakwater, a location that left it exposed to attacks from the sea.
Satellite footage shows the aftermath of yesterday’s drone strikes against Novorossiysk naval base as well and the Sheshkaris oil terminal. Viable burn damage is noted on the bow of the Admiral Makarov, while damage can also be spotted at multiple points of the oil terminal,… https://t.co/4TP52LIjJx pic.twitter.com/ZDukrRDDyG
— Woofers (@NotWoofers) April 7, 2026
According to reports, the drones approached from the maritime direction, evaded Russian missile defenses and anti-aircraft fire, and successfully hit the target. At the same time, nearby oil infrastructure facilities were also attacked, triggering large-scale fires.
Russia had previously relocated much of its Black Sea Fleet from occupied Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in an effort to shield it from Ukrainian maritime drone attacks. However, that relocation now appears to have created new vulnerabilities rather than eliminating them.
Ukrainian forces are deploying a combination of unmanned systems, including surface drones, underwater drones, and aerial drones.
The defensive layout of Novorossiysk, particularly its breakwaters, may now be working against Russian forces, effectively confining ships within a restricted space.
Russian submarines operating from the port have reportedly been forced to submerge close to the piers in an effort to reduce visibility. Even so, analysts suggest it may only be a matter of time before Ukrainian drones inflict more serious damage.
Novorossiysk lies roughly 200 to 350 nautical miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory, leaving Russia with few viable alternatives.
Other ports such as Sochi or Ochamchire lack the infrastructure to support major fleet operations, while any withdrawal through the Volga-Don Canal toward the Caspian Sea could prove effectively irreversible.
As a result, Russian naval assets in the Black Sea increasingly face a difficult reality: remaining in port exposes them to aerial attacks, while venturing out to sea leaves them vulnerable to Ukrainian maritime drones, NavalNews wrote.
Earlier, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that a Russian railway ferry used to supply temporarily occupied Crimea was disabled in a drone strike, marking the loss of the last such vessel operating in the Kerch Strait.
-0775f70cc6e578ae4ee95e64f67df122.jpg "Russian Authorities Involve Students in Military Training Under Guise of Patriotic Education in Mariupol")
