Ukrainian partisans blinded Novorossiysk air defenses before strike on oil depot
Russians lost control over their air defense (Photo: Getty Images)
The Atesh partisans carried out another successful series of sabotage operations behind enemy lines. The agents helped track down air defense systems before the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the largest oil depot in the Caucasus, according to the Atesh Telegram channel.
According to the partisan movement's post, sabotage was carried out on communication and energy facilities in the area of Novorossiysk. This all happened ahead of the Ukrainian forces' strike on the Grushovaya Balka oil depot on the night of May 23.
In particular, the agents disabled several communication towers that ensured coordination between air defense units in the area, as well as damaged a transformer substation that powered some military and communication facilities.
"Without power supply, large stationary radars lost stable operation. Reconnaissance of UAVs on the near approaches to Novorossiysk was effectively blinded — air defense units lost the ability to respond in time to low-flying targets," the post reads.
As for the Grushovaya Balka oil depot, Atesh reminds that this is the largest oil storage facility in the Caucasus. The facility's capacity is 1.2 million tons of petroleum products. It is used to store, distribute, and transship fuel for military equipment, the fleet, and Russian logistics in the south.
Ukrainian partisans blinded Novorossiysk air defenses (Photo: https://t.me/atesh_ua/10023)
Ukrainian partisans blinded Novorossiysk air defenses (Photo: https://t.me/atesh_ua/10023)
Ukrainian partisans blinded Novorossiysk air defenses before the strike on the oil depot https://t.co/fOlJcZWndc pic.twitter.com/9x6Cp1dyP4
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) May 25, 2026
Other Atesh sabotage operations
On May 17, the Atesh partisan movement reported that they had carried out a sabotage operation in the Moscow region, as a result of which the operation of elements of the Russian air defense system on the approaches to Moscow was disrupted.
In particular, agents damaged several communication lines in the areas of Putilkovo, Kommunarka, and Domodedovo. These facilities housed electronic warfare modules that provided control of low-flying targets, data transmission, and coordination between Russian air defense units.
According to Atesh, cadets from the Penza Artillery Institute are planned to be used to guard oil depots against drone strikes.
