Ukrainian Forces Strike Three Ships in Novorossiysk: What Is Known About the Attack on the Port and Storage Facilities

On September 9, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to a report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine passed to RBC-Ukraine, struck three Russian Navy vessels that were at the time in the waters of Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai. As Ukrainian military officials explained, after processing additional intelligence data, the destruction of all three ships has been confirmed. On the same day, according to the same sources, fuel oil storage facilities in Novorossiysk were also hit, indicating a deliberate strike on the port and fuel infrastructure of the Black Sea Fleet's port city.

Details of the Strike on the Port and Its Consequences

In parallel with the hitting of the ships, the port of Novorossiysk itself was reportedly also attacked, according to reports by several media outlets. The Ukrainian publication "Svoboda" reported four deaths as a result of the Ukrainian forces' attack on the city. Thus, the September 9 strike was of a comprehensive nature: both surface ships and the coastal port and energy infrastructure, including the fuel oil storage facilities, came under fire, and the damage to the latter could have long-term environmental and logistical consequences for the region.

What Is Known About the Hit Vessels

Among the vessels affected by the strike, open sources mention the Russian naval minesweeper of Project 12660 "Rubin" — the "Zheleznyakov." However, Ukrainian officials gave a different characterization of the target: according to Mykyta Briukhovetskyi (Madyar Brovdi), missile ships were destroyed in Novorossiysk on September 9, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that ships carrying "Kalibr" missiles were hit. This indicates that several versions are circulating in the public domain regarding exactly which types of vessels were struck during the operation.

Contradictory Data

There are notable discrepancies between sources. On the one hand, the materials mention the Project 12660 "Rubin" minesweeper ("Zheleznyakov"), which by its classification is not a carrier of "Kalibr" cruise missiles. On the other hand, Ukrainian official statements characterize the hit targets as missile ships and "Kalibr" carriers. In addition, the information about four deaths on shore is provided mainly by a single source ("Svoboda") and is not confirmed in the General Staff report cited by RBC-Ukraine. The dates, however, are consistent: all events are dated September 9. Until independent external confirmation (satellite imagery, independent intelligence data), the exact list of hit vessels and the number of casualties remain a matter of dispute.

Context: A Series of Strikes on the Black Sea Coast

The September 9 strike was part of a broader series of attacks on Novorossiysk and Anapa, the consequences of which were recorded in the preceding days. In parallel, open discussions mentioned changes at the front, including the retreat of Russian units in certain areas over the past few days. Taken together, this data paints a picture of increased pressure on the rear and port infrastructure of the Russian Black Sea coast, where the ports of Novorossiysk and Anapa play a key role in logistics and exports. Further verification of the details of the September 9 strike — including the types of ships hit and human casualties — remains an open question.