Ukraine Strikes Russian Black Sea Port, Damaging Grain Terminals and Naval Base

A coordinated Ukrainian drone and missile attack on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk has damaged grain export terminals and struck the last major Russian naval base on the Black Sea, according to company officials and Ukrainian authorities.

The Wednesday night assault killed at least three people, including an eight-year-old child, and injured 24 others, Russian regional officials said. The attack forced the city to declare an emergency after drones hit areas around the port and damaged pipelines, temporarily suspending water supply.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv launched rockets and underwater drones in what he called a "unique operation" targeting the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk. However, he did not mention the grain terminals in his statement. "The occupying fleet and all the infrastructure that supports it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues," Zelensky said.

Novorossiysk is one of Russia's largest ports and now hosts the bulk of the Black Sea Fleet, after Moscow relocated its vessels from Sevastopol in occupied Crimea due to repeated Ukrainian attacks. The fleet's previous home base had become too exposed to Ukrainian strikes, making Novorossiysk a key military and economic hub.

The attack has raised fresh concerns about global grain supplies. A major grain trading company confirmed to Russia's TASS news agency that its terminal had been hit, while another told Reuters and Russian outlet RBK the same. These terminals play a significant role in Russia's grain exports, which are vital to global food security, particularly for countries in Africa and the Middle East.

In response, Russia's agriculture ministry announced on Wednesday that it was working to redirect cargo flows to ports in the Baltic and Caspian Seas, as well as land routes. The ministry said it was "taking into account current logistical constraints" but made no direct reference to the Ukrainian attack.

Witnesses reported repeated explosions over Novorossiysk throughout the night as air defences intercepted aerial objects. Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said a man was killed by drone debris, and that "several hundred drones" struck locations across the Krasnodar region, damaging dozens of buildings, including homes.

Meanwhile, Moscow launched its own aerial strikes overnight, killing at least 11 civilians, according to Ukrainian officials. The majority of those deaths occurred in the city of Zaporizhzhia, which was hit with ballistic missiles and glide bombs.

The exchange underscores the escalating nature of the conflict, with Ukraine increasingly targeting Russian military infrastructure deep inside its territory, while Russia continues its aerial bombardments of Ukrainian cities. The international community has repeatedly called for de-escalation, but both sides remain entrenched in a war that shows no sign of ending.

The damage to grain terminals in Novorossiysk could have far-reaching consequences for global food prices and availability. Analysts are closely monitoring the situation, as any disruption to Russian grain exports may exacerbate food insecurity in developing nations that rely heavily on imports from the Black Sea region.