Strikes by Ukrainian Maritime Drones Paralyzed the Work of Oil Terminals in Tuapse and Novorossiysk

On September 24, Ukraine’s maritime attack drones attacked Russia’s logistics facilities on the Black Sea coast. The ports in Novorossiysk and Tuapse were hit.

Sources in the DIU reported the operation to Militarnyi. 

The attack paralyzed the work of Transneft’s oil loading facility and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s terminal near Novorossiysk. It was there that the Russians loaded oil onto their tankers, including from the so-called “shadow fleet.”

These transshipment points ensure the export of up to 2 million barrels of oil per day, making them a key element of Russia’s energy logistics.

Additionally, the DIU’s maritime drones struck an oil loading pier in the port of Tuapse, where one of the largest terminals in the Russian Federation is situated.

Ukrainian intelligence emphasized that the attack was aimed at the oil export facilities of the aggressor state, which finances the continuation of the criminal war against Ukraine. It also noted the Russian forces’ inability to effectively protect critical infrastructure in the Black Sea.

The Russian military’s attempt to repel the attack resulted in chaotic and inaccurate shelling. The fire damaged residential buildings, destroyed several cars, and caused panic among civilians in Novorossiysk, Tuapse, and even in Sochi, which is tens of kilometers away.

During the attacks in Sochi, local authorities announced an emergency evacuation from the beaches, which caused an even greater outcry among the population.

“The fight against the shadow oil exports of the aggressor state continues,” the DIU emphasized.

Analysts from the independent group CyberBoroshno analyzed the video of the attack. They confirmed that a marine drone hit an oil loading pier in the port. The footage captures the moment of the drone’s explosion upon impact with the object.

In August, five elite Russian divers were blown up in the Novorossiysk Bay while trying to investigate a Ukrainian drifting marine drone.