Drone Attack Disrupts Black Sea Oil Exports

(NOVOROSSIYSK, KRASNODAR KRAI) – Ukrainian drones struck three key facilities at the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk overnight, hitting two main loading piers and pipeline control nodes in an attack that Ukrainian reporting said halted crude oil loading and disrupted Russian export operations in the area.

Short videos and images circulating after the strike showed multiple fires burning at the Black Sea oil port, while Russian air defences appeared to fire unsuccessfully at incoming drones.

According to geolocation analysis cited from open source accounts, at least three facilities were struck. These were identified as two main piers used in export operations and the terminal’s pipeline control infrastructure.

If confirmed in full, the damage would represent another significant Ukrainian strike against Russia’s oil export system, which Kyiv has increasingly targeted as part of its wider campaign against Russian military logistics, fuel revenues and strategic infrastructure.

The latest strike appears to have been focused specifically on the fuel export terminal rather than on Novorossiysk’s nearby naval facilities. Although the port city hosts one of Russia’s most important Black Sea naval bases, the available footage and commentary indicated that the attack was directed at oil handling infrastructure rather than warships or military harbour assets.

The strike follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil export infrastructure in recent months. Russian Baltic ports, including Primorsk and Ust Luga, have also faced repeated drone pressure, with Ukraine steadily broadening its campaign against energy and export nodes that help sustain Moscow’s war economy.

The attack on Novorossiysk suggests Ukraine may now be placing increased emphasis on Black Sea export routes after repeatedly demonstrating its ability to reach targets deep inside Russian logistics networks.

The damage had completely halted crude loading at the terminal and interrupted exports from the area. That claim could not immediately be independently verified, but any prolonged outage at Sheskharis would be significant given the terminal’s role in handling Russian crude shipments through the Black Sea.

The footage released after the attack was brief, but it appeared to show several separate fires across the port area. Russian air defence activity was also visible, though the intercept effort did not appear to prevent multiple impacts.

The attack comes as some Russian sources and military observers increasingly point to strain within Russia’s surface to air missile network, particularly amid sustained Ukrainian long range strike operations.