---
title: "Blind Spot: How 'ATESH' Saboteurs Blinded Novorossiysk's Air Defense Before the Strike on the Giant Oil Depot"
description: "Partisans of 'ATESH' blinded Novorossiysk's air defense by disabling communications and power supplies before the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the largest oil depot in the Caucasus. Sabotage in the rear became the key to the attack's success — radars lost functionality, and drones passed unnoticed. 🚀💥"
date: 2026-05-26T20:33:31.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/saboteurs-atesh-blinded-novorossiysk-air-defense-before-strike-on-oil-depot
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Blind Spot: How 'ATESH' Saboteurs Blinded Novorossiysk's Air Defense Before the Strike on the Giant Oil Depot

![Soldier in camouflage walking past anti-aircraft missile systems against a background of grass — illustration of air defense operations in Novorossiysk before the sabotage](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/27/diversii-atesh-oslavili-pvo-novorossiyska-pered-udaro-po-naftobaze/pvo-novorossiysk-diversii-atesh.webp)

In modern warfare, victory belongs to those who control information and can blind the enemy. This was exactly the scenario that unfolded in the Novorossiysk area on the eve of a powerful strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a strategic object. The partisan movement 'ATESH' demonstrated how targeted sabotage in the rear can become the decisive factor in the success of a large-scale attack.

### Quiet work before a loud explosion

Several hours before the defense forces' radars and drones began searching for vulnerabilities, underground agents were already in action. Their targets were critical communication and power nodes in the suburbs of Novorossiysk. This was not random chaos — it was a surgically precise strike against the nervous system of Russian air defense.

Saboteurs disabled several cellular and military communication towers that ensured coordination between air defense units. Without these control channels, anti-aircraft crews were left isolated. But most importantly, the power supply was cut off. Damage to a transformer substation deprived powerful stationary radar stations (Radar) of power.

### The blinding effect

The result of 'ATESH's work was instantaneous and crushing. Without stable power, radars lost functionality, and reconnaissance using drones on the city's immediate approaches was left blind. Russian air defense lost the ability to detect and track targets flying at low altitudes — exactly where attack drones usually hide.

At this moment, exploiting the 'windows' in the enemy's defense, Ukrainian forces struck the 'Grushovaya Balka' oil depot. This is the largest oil storage facility in the Caucasus, capable of holding 1.2 million tons of petroleum products. Logistics for fuel for all military equipment, the fleet, and rear services of the Russian Federation in the southern direction pass through this object. The strike was delivered precisely when the defense system was most vulnerable.

### Global sabotage strategy

The events in Novorossiysk are not an isolated case. This is part of the systematic work of the partisan movement. As early as May 17, 'ATESH' reported a sabotage act in the Moscow region, where communication nodes in the Putilkovo, Kommunarka, and Domodedovo areas were damaged. Modules of electronic warfare (EW), responsible for controlling low-flying targets, were also located there.

The sequence of these actions shows that Russia is facing a new reality: its rear is no longer safe. Agents act precisely, but their influence on the overall picture of the battle is colossal. They create conditions under which even the most modern air defense systems turn into useless scrap metal.

Interestingly, in response to these threats, the Russian command is trying to find new solutions. According to the same 'ATESH', the Penza Artillery Institute is already considering the possibility of involving cadets in the protection of oil depots from drone strikes. This indicates that the problem has become so acute that traditional defense methods are ceasing to work.