Strike on Makhachkala: Defense forces hit Russia's only non-freezing port on the Caspian, through which Moscow shipped Iranian Shaheds

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defense forces struck eight targets on Russian territory that, according to Kyiv, support the war machine against Ukraine. Among the hit targets were an oil refinery in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and a seaport in Dagestan, as well as facilities in the Moscow, Voronezh, Astrakhan, and Bryansk regions. RBC-Ukraine reports this, citing a post by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a statement from the company Fire Point.

Strike on the only non-freezing port on the Caspian

The key target of the attack was the Makhachkala seaport — Russia's only non-freezing deep-water port on the Caspian Sea. It operates year-round and ensures Russia's maritime links with the countries of the Caspian region, including Iran. According to Ukrainian sources, it was through this port that Iranian Shahed strike drones were delivered to Russia and subsequently transported to areas of use against Ukraine.

Fire Point's account and confirmation of a hit

"FP-1 drones struck Russia's only non-freezing port on the Caspian, through which Iranian Shaheds were being delivered," the company Fire Point reported. A hit and a subsequent fire were recorded within the port area. The exact consequences of the attack are being clarified as of the time of publication, leaving some details outside the scope of fully confirmed facts.

Kyiv's reaction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the strikes in his address: "Russia continues its terror against Ukraine every day. And every day it receives a just response." In this way, Kyiv underscores the systematic nature of the attacks on the enemy's rear infrastructure.

Context: other attacks that same week

Recall that in the night of September 8, drones attacked the Saratov oil refinery — one of Russia's oldest facilities of its kind; a fire broke out after the strike, and the region's governor confirmed damage to civilian infrastructure and casualties. On that same night, when the port in Dagestan was hit, drones also attacked Sochi: a fire broke out on the promenade, and, due to the attack, a concert by Russian singer Tatyana Bulanova, who openly supports the war against Ukraine, was cut short.