A Ukrainian drone and missile strike on Novorossiysk has knocked out operations at two of Russia's largest Black Sea grain terminals. The attack also struck Russia's last major Black Sea naval base and killed three people, raising fresh concern over wheat supplies to Africa and the Middle East.
Strike hits Russia's last Black Sea naval base
A Wednesday night Ukrainian drone and missile strike hit Novorossiysk, damaging grain export terminals at what is also Russia's last major naval base on the Black Sea. Three people were killed, including an eight-year-old child, and 24 others were injured in the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the rocket and underwater drone strike, calling it a "unique operation" against the Russian naval base. He did not mention the damage to the grain terminals. Zelensky warned that Russian fleet assets and their supporting infrastructure "will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues".
Many Russian naval assets previously stationed at Sevastopol in Crimea were already forced to relocate during earlier phases of the war, after repeated strikes on that historic hub. Some vessels have since moved as far as the Caspian Sea to avoid attacks.
Grain exports at risk for Africa and the Middle East
Novorossiysk is central to Russia's grain trade. Two of the port's biggest grain terminals suspended operations after the overnight strikes. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, and most of those exports move through Black Sea ports like Novorossiysk.
Russia's main grain lobby group had already warned that continued Ukrainian drone attacks could shut down Black Sea exports, pushing up prices and worsening hunger in Africa and the Middle East.
Oil infrastructure and Washington's response in focus
Novorossiysk also houses vital Russian oil export infrastructure, and Kyiv has targeted it before, arguing that export proceeds help fund Russia's war effort. Ukraine had indicated it has suspended attacks on oil tankers using Novorossiysk, at Vice President JD Vance's urging in late July, according to Ukrainian officials cited by the Financial Times. Vance's request stemmed from concern that the tanker strikes were creating instability in global fuel markets, along with the safety of vessels carrying Kazakh crude oil to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal at Novorossiysk.
Source: Oilprice.com
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