Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the country’s military carried out a unique operation targeting the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, a major stronghold of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. The attack, which utilized anti-ship missiles, jet-powered aerial drones, and sea drones, struck air defenses, piers, and other port infrastructure in the Krasnodar region city.

Details of the Attack

According to Zelenskyy, the attack was part of Ukraine’s efforts to limit the movements of Russia’s Black Sea navy. The Ukrainian military has been using cutting-edge drones developed since Russia’s invasion to target Russian ships in the Black Sea, including warships and oil tankers.

Russian air defenses reportedly downed over 500 Ukrainian drones during the attack. However, the attack still resulted in damage to the naval base and surrounding areas, including the death of an eight-year-old child and injuries to several others.

Escalating Tensions

The attack comes as tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate. Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of planning to mobilize hundreds of thousands of Russians by the end of the year, despite the slow and costly progress of the Russian army on the battlefield.

Ukraine is also working to scale up its weapons manufacturing through agreements with partner countries, as both sides appear to be preparing for a long and bloody conflict.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.