Russia reported that it thwarted Ukrainian sea and air drone attacks on a naval base in the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula. Both sides witnessed an increase in attacks after Moscow’s exit from the Black Sea grain export deal.
Russia said Friday it had thwarted Ukrainian sea and air drone attacks on a naval base in the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula.
The number of attacks in the sea has increased from both sides since Moscow exited a deal last month that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the shipping hub during the conflict between the two countries.
Russian ships destroyed the naval drones, it said. It was the first such attack targeting the port city.
The Black Sea port of Novorossiysk hosts the terminus of a pipeline that carries most Kazakh oil exports through Russia.
Russian state media reported Friday that the fuel artery’s operator Caspian Pipeline Consortium said it was continuing to ship oil to moored tankers at the terminal.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been targeted since the beginning of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine more than a year ago, but attacks have increased lately.
On Tuesday, Russia’s defense ministry said it foiled a Ukrainian drone attack targeting patrol boats in the Black Sea.
Three drones were trained on ships navigating in waters 340 kilometers (211.27 miles) southwest of Sevastopol, the base of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Crimea.
A similar attack was repelled a week earlier.
The ministry also said Friday it had downed 13 drones over the Crimean Peninsula.
There were no casualties or damage in either attack, the ministry said.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv throughout Moscow’s Ukraine offensive but has come under more intense, increased attacks recently.
In July, Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea blew up an ammunition depot and damaged a strategic and symbolic bridge linking Russia’s mainland to the peninsula.
Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to reclaim Crimea, a regular target for its forces.
On Sunday, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea said 25 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over the peninsula.
Kyiv says Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s Odesa, a centuries-old city on the shores of the Black Sea and one of Ukraine’s main ports.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
