Ukraine attacks Russian navy base near Novorossiysk (updated)

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port PAO

04/08/2023 04:04

(Writes through with Russian defence ministry statement)
       Aug 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian sea drones attacked a
Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a
major hub for Russian exports, early on Friday and were
destroyed by Russian warships, Russia's defence ministry said.
    The attack prompted the Novorossiysk port to temporarily
halt all ship movement, according to the Caspian Pipeline
Consortium which operates an oil terminal there.
    Russian social media users reported hearing explosions and
gunfire near Novorossiysk on Friday morning. If confirmed it
would be the first Ukrainian attack on one of Russia's main
commercial ports.
    The Caspian Pipeline Consortium which loads oil onto tankers
in Novorossiysk said the port has temporarily barred all ship
movement. It said its facilities had not been damaged and oil
loadings continued onto tankers which were already moored
    Videos posted on a local online community and circulated by
Russian online news outlet Astra showed the movement of ships
just off the coast with the sound of gunfire coming from the
direction of the sea.
    The emergency services of Novorossiysk have confirmed
reports of blasts and security services have been informed,
Russia's RIA news agency reported. The port is one of the
biggest in the Black Sea.
    The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is the main exporter of
Kazakh crude.
    Clashes in the Black Sea and adjacent ports have escalated
since Russia refused last month to extend a deal allowing for
the safe exports of grain from Ukrainian ports; Russian drones
and missiles have struck several Ukrainian port facilities and
grain silos on or near the Black Sea.
    Russia has also reported an attack by Ukrainian sea drones
on its warships which were escorting a civilian vessel.
        Russian air defences downed 10 Ukrainian drones over
Crimea on Friday morning and suppressed three more with
electronic countermeasures, TASS cited the Russian defence
ministry as saying.

 (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Tom Hogue, Kim Coghill and
Michael Perry)
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