Ukraine launched its first attack on a commercial port within Russian territory early Friday morning. Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that they had thwarted a drone attack on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that "Ukrainian forces attacked the Novorossiysk naval base with two unmanned boats," confirming their destruction.
The regional Russian governor, Vyacheslav Kondratiev, clarified that "there are no reports of injuries or damage resulting from the Ukrainian attack." A source in Ukrainian intelligence told Reuters that the Russian Navy landing ship "Olenegorsky Gornyak" sustained damage during the drone attack carried out by the Ukrainian Security Service and Navy near the Novorossiysk port on Friday.
The source added, "As a result of the attack, there was a significant crack in the ship, and it cannot currently perform its combat duties," asserting that "all Russian claims of thwarting the attack are false." A source familiar with port operations mentioned that oil and grain loading operations are still ongoing, as the port resumed normal operations just hours after the attack.
Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Southern Military Command, stated, "We have information indicating that it may have indeed been damaged," adding that "it is entirely legal to destroy enemy capabilities during wartime."
