Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking Black Sea navy base and Crimea with drones

Russia accused Ukraine early Friday of attacking its Black Sea navy base within the port of Novorossiysk with sea drones.

The assault on Novorossiysk is the primary time a business Russian port has been focused within the 18-month battle.

Town is a significant port on the Black Sea and hosts a naval base, shipbuilding yards and an oil terminal. It’s a key port for Russian exports.

Novorossiysk is simply throughout the water from Crimea, the place Russia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned it thwarted one other assault by Ukraine in a single day, taking down 13 drones.

Russia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned Russian ships patrolling the perimeter of the naval base destroyed two Ukrainian sea drones.

The mayor of Novorossiysk, Andrey Kravchenko, mentioned the crews of the Olenegorsky Gonyak and Suvorovets ships “instantly reacted to the assault and helped to keep away from penalties.” Veniamin Kondratiev, the governor of the Krasnodar area the place the bottom is situated mentioned there have been no casualties.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates an oil terminal within the port, mentioned Russian navy ships repelled an assault of sea drones and that maritime visitors was banned quickly.

The corporate mentioned its services weren’t broken and that loaded tankers will probably be moved after the ban is lifted.

Footage printed on Russian social media channels appeared to point out a ship firing into the ocean and a burning object exploding.

Ukrainian companies carried footage from social media channels they recommended confirmed a Russian ship itemizing to 1 aspect after the assault.

The Related Press couldn’t confirm the movies. Ukrainian officers haven’t commented on the assault, consistent with the nation’s safety coverage.

Minutes after confirming the assault on the Black Sea port, Russia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned it had additionally repelled one other assault by Ukraine on Moscow-annexed Crimea.

The protection ministry mentioned air protection programs shot down 10 drones and it had electronically jammed one other three.

Movies shared on Russian social media channels reportedly from across the metropolis of Feodosia in Crimea confirmed what gave the impression to be air protection programs working, in addition to loud explosions.

In the meantime Russia’s protection ministry additionally printed movies on Friday of the Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu visiting a commander middle in Ukraine.

The protection ministry didn’t say precisely the place Shoigu was however mentioned he heard a report from the group commander Lt. Gen. Andrei Mordvichev and inspected a captured Swedish infantry combating automobile CV90.

The Russian Ministry of Protection mentioned Shoigu thanked personnel for conducting profitable offensive operations within the route of Lyman and for capturing extra advantageous positions.