The Ukrainian Navy reported a strike on the Russian multi-purpose support vessel NEFRIT, which was located in the port of Sochi. This was announced by the Ukrainian Navy itself in its own publication, according to RBC-Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian side, a powerful explosion occurred in the vicinity of the vessel, followed by smoke. The attack, as emphasized in Kyiv, was carried out using a maritime unmanned boat, making it part of a broader campaign of strikes against Russian maritime assets at a significant distance from the front line.
Purpose of the Vessel NEFRIT
According to the Ukrainian Navy's statement, NEFRIT, flying the Russian flag, was used to support Russia's maritime and energy infrastructure. The vessel, according to Kyiv, supported oil and gas operations, serviced offshore facilities, transported various cargo and personnel, and performed underwater engineering work. Thus, in the assessment of the Ukrainian side, it was involved in several areas of Russian maritime infrastructure and contributed to sustaining Russia's war economy.
Method of Attack and Claimed Consequences
Ukrainian military officials indicated that a maritime unmanned boat was used to strike NEFRIT. The Navy stated that hitting the vessel damages Russia's logistics, its "special capabilities," and its military infrastructure, since the work of NEFRIT, in their words, contributed to financing the aggression against Ukraine. Commanders emphasized that they continue to strike targets that provide the Russian side with resources for waging war, and reminded that even Russia's rear infrastructure cannot be considered a safe zone.
Context: A Series of Strikes on Maritime Assets
The strike on NEFRIT in the port of Sochi fits into a series of similar actions. On the night of September 3, according to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, a Russian landing craft BK-16 was hit in Sevastopol; the nature and scale of damage to this vessel, as noted, are still being clarified. The totality of these statements indicates that the Ukrainian side is deliberately expanding the geography of strikes on maritime and port facilities, including those previously considered to be in the deep rear.
On the Status of the Information
It is important to note that all the details provided — about the explosion, the smoke, the method of attack, and the purpose of the vessel — come exclusively from statements by the Ukrainian Navy. The Russian side did not confirm or deny the fact of the attack in the provided materials, and an independent assessment of the scale of damage to NEFRIT is not yet available in open sources. Until additional confirmation emerges, information about the nature and extent of damage to the vessel should be regarded as a one-sided assessment by the Ukrainian side.
