Ukraine drone strike disables grain terminals in Novorossiysk as Russia conducts large Pacific fleet drills
Ukrainian forces used drones and missiles to damage two grain terminals in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, while President Vladimir Putin warned Europe of possible ship seizures during extensive Russian naval exercises in the Pacific.
Ukraine launched a coordinated drone and missile strike on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, disabling two major grain terminals that handle a significant share of Russian agricultural exports, according to Russian industry sources cited by Reuters. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operation targeted the naval base and used jet-powered Palianytsia drones, Neptune missiles and unmanned naval systems, claiming hits on air-defence positions, piers and port infrastructure.
The regional governor reported at least two fatalities, including a child, and the city mayor said more than two dozen residential buildings, four businesses and several schools were damaged, with the municipal water supply temporarily halted. Futures for wheat on the Chicago market rose about 3% after the attack.
In a separate development, President Putin appeared aboard the missile cruiser Varyak near Sakhalin to observe Pacific Fleet drills involving roughly 13,000 personnel, 60 ships and about 30 aircraft, helicopters and unmanned systems. During the exercises, Russian forces fired anti-ship missiles, including Oniks cruise missiles from coastal batteries and a Uran missile from the corvette Smerch.
From the cruiser, Putin warned that if European nations seized Russian merchant vessels, Russia would respond in kind, describing such actions as "piracy" in a statement posted by the foreign ministry on X. The remarks came as the European Union expanded sanctions on vessels suspected of evading sanctions and considered tighter maritime enforcement.
NATO officials said the alliance condemned recent Russian actions, expressed solidarity with affected members and reaffirmed support for Ukraine. Romania also reported the destruction of two suspected Russian Gerbera drones over the Black Sea.
The incidents illustrate an expanding maritime dimension to the conflict, with attacks on key ports and heightened naval activity on both the Black Sea and Pacific fronts.