US issues diplomatic protest to Ukraine over strikes on Russia's Novorossiysk Black Sea port
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to United States Olga Stefanishyna (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The United States issued a diplomatic protest to Ukraine over strikes on the Russian Black Sea port in Novorossiysk. They allegedly violated American economic interests, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna said, CNN reports.
According to her, the United States told Ukraine that its attacks on Novorossiysk allegedly affected some American investments in Kazakhstan.
"And we have heard from the Department of State that we should refrain from, from, you know, attacking American interests," Stefanishyna said.
The Embassy of Ukraine received, in this regard, a démarche — official diplomatic message from the United States State Department.
At the same time, as the ambassador noted, the United States did not propose to Kyiv to refrain from attacks on Russian military and energy infrastructure.
"It was related to the very fact that American economic interest was affected there. We have taken note of that," she said.
In a message of State Department, in particular, it was stated that the United States currently does not have the same economic interests in Ukraine as in Kazakhstan.
"I was really, really sorry that in 35 years of Ukraine's independence, having so many chances, we never brought ourselves to the situation where we can do the same," Stefanishyna added.
Attacks on the port in Novorossiysk
In December 2025, it became known that drones of the Security Service of Ukraine attacked a Russian submarine in the port of Novorossiysk. This is the first recorded case in history of a drone strike on a submarine.
According to data of Security Service, the submarine suffered critical damage and, in fact, was put out of action. It was also specified there that four launchers of Kalibr cruise missiles were on board the object.
Also, earlier in Novorossiysk, after a drone attack, fires broke out at an oil depot and in the port. Later, the media wrote that in Novorossiysk, oil exports were halted after a night drone attack.
Later, spokesperson of Naval Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Pletenchuk said that preparation for a strike on the Russian submarine Varshavyanka in the port of Novorossiysk was complex and multi-layered.
Spokesperson also reported that despite all measures, the port in Russian Novorossiysk remains a dangerous location for Russian ships, since Ukrainian defenders can reach them there.
