Russia halted oil exports from its Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Friday after what authorities described as a major Ukrainian drone attack, disrupting one of the country’s most important energy export routes, according to industry sources who spoke to Reuters.
The strike—one of the most significant on Russian oil-exporting infrastructure in recent months—comes amid Ukraine’s expanded campaign to degrade Moscow’s ability to finance its war by targeting refineries, ports, and pipeline systems.
Two industry sources said oil loadings at Novorossiysk were suspended after drones struck port facilities overnight. Russia’s pipeline operator Transneft also halted crude supplies to the port, although it declined public comment.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which ships Kazakh oil through a nearby terminal, suspended exports pending the all-clear from Russian authorities.
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Interfax reported that debris from the attack landed on the grounds of grain terminal NKHP, but the facility continued operating normally.
Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said Novorossiysk suffered “the most” damage, adding that more than 170 emergency workers and 50 vehicles responded to the scene.
“Overnight, more than 170 people and 50 pieces of equipment dealt with the aftermath of the attack, quickly extinguishing fires and assisting residents,” he wrote on social media.
Local officials said a fire at the Sheskharis oil terminal, which handles crude and oil product exports, was extinguished later in the morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv also launched long-range “Long Neptune” cruise missiles at unspecified targets inside Russia overnight.
He added that Ukrainian strikes were becoming “more successful all the time,” but provided no further details.
Ukraine has intensified the use of long-range air and naval drones since August, hitting oil refineries, export terminals, Baltic and Black Sea ports, and critical pipeline nodes in an effort to restrict Russia’s wartime revenue.
Moscow said Friday’s attack damaged a docked vessel, several apartment buildings, and an oil depot. Three crew members aboard the damaged ship were hospitalized, according to Kondratyev.
