Ukrainian drone attack sparks firedrone attack sparks fire at Russian oil terminal
A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an oil terminal in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on May 23, 2026, and officials said one person was injured.
The incident adds to cross-border strikes linked to the Russia-Ukraine war and highlights the vulnerability of Russian energy infrastructure near the Black Sea.
Russian Officials
Russian officials said falling drone debris or a drone attack caused the fire at the Novorossiysk terminal and treated the incident as a security emergency. They also linked the strike to wider damage to strategic infrastructure in southern Russia.
Ukrainian Officials
Ukrainian officials denied Russian accusations of war crimes and described the operation as aimed at Russian war infrastructure. They presented the strike as part of military pressure on assets supporting Russia's war effort.
- Novorossiysk was heavily damaged during World War II and later rebuilt as a major port.
- The Black Sea has long been a strategic route for navies and energy shipments.
- Oil depots are often targeted in wars because they can disrupt transport and revenue.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
