Even Novorossiysk can't protect Russia's Black Sea Fleet — Ukrainian Navy Spokesperson
Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Naval Forces of Ukraine (facebook.com/Taclbery)
Since the full-scale invasion began, it's hard to imagine Russian ships operating near Odesa or the Ukrainian coast, said Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Naval Forces of Ukraine.
According to him, the Russians no longer consider even the naval harbor in Novorossiysk to be safe, especially after they were forced to abandon their main base in Sevastopol.
"The current situation at sea speaks for itself. The only location that is relatively secure for them — though I wouldn't call it safe, as even they don't view it that way — is Novorossiysk. But during any serious air raid alert, they leave the naval harbor to avoid being hit. At the same time, they can't stay at sea either, because they risk encountering naval drones," Pletenchuk explained.
Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk is one of Russia's key ports on the Black Sea, located in the Krasnodar region. It is the largest seaport in the Russian Federation by cargo volume and one of the biggest in Europe. A significant share of Russia's exports of oil, grain, metal products, and other raw materials passes through this port. It holds strategic importance for the Russian economy by providing access to international trade routes and serving as a critical hub for energy infrastructure, including the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
In recent years, Novorossiysk has also gained military and political significance. It plays a logistical role for Russia's Black Sea Fleet and is used to transport military equipment and weapons — particularly in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Attacks on Novorossiysk
During the night of May 3, explosions were heard in Novorossiysk following a drone attack.
Local Russian channels reported a combined assault on the port city. According to these reports, Russian forces were targeting and destroying unmanned surface vessels and drones that approached in multiple waves.
