A drone strike on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk has resulted in a significant fire at a facility operated by Transneft, the state-owned oil pipeline company. The incident occurred overnight, igniting a blaze in the docking area of the terminal.
The fire broke out near key loading points, specifically at berths 1, 1a, and 2, which are crucial for the terminal’s operations. These berths have the capacity to accommodate large oil tankers, with berth 1 able to handle vessels weighing up to 250,000 tons, while berth 2 is designed for ships up to 90,000 tons.
As of now, it remains unclear how the attack has affected the terminal’s oil loading operations. Transneft has not responded to inquiries from journalists regarding the incident.
According to an update from the General Staff of Ukraine, the attack successfully targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, confirming hits on oil infrastructure and a large fire at the site. Sources from RBC-Ukraine within the Security Service of Ukraine reported that six out of seven oil loading stands were damaged, which are essential for the loading and unloading of oil from tankers.
Additionally, the drone strikes affected ground infrastructure at the terminal, damaging a key section of the pipeline system and a metering unit for oil, leading to further fires. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media show flames at the Sheskharis terminal, alongside reports of explosions.
The mayor of Novorossiysk has confirmed the extensive drone attack and advised residents to remain in shelters for safety. Robert ‘Madyar’ Brovdi, the commander of drone forces, indicated that one of the strikes also impacted the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, with reconnaissance efforts underway to assess the extent of the damage.
A drone attack on Novorossiysk has caused significant damage to oil infrastructure, impacting key loading operations at the Transneft terminal. The extent of the damage and operational disruptions remain under assessment.