Ukrainian forces have conducted a series of large-scale attacks on Russian Black Sea Fleet assets in recent weeks, striking targets in both occupied Crimea and the Novorossiysk naval base in successive operations.
In February 2026, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence special unit “Prymary”—also known as the Ghosts—carried out a coordinated strike in occupied Crimea that hit multiple Russian military assets. The operation damaged a Project 22460 patrol ship, a Project 1496M1 sea tug, a Project 16640 vessel, and a BK-16 landing boat. Ukrainian forces also claimed hits on an S-400 radar installation, a Forpost reconnaissance UAV, and a Ka-27 helicopter. Ukrainian officials declared that “Crimea is no safe harbor for the occupiers.”
Just weeks later, on the night of March 1-2, 2026, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack against Novorossiysk, now the Black Sea Fleet’s primary operating base. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and Defense Forces confirmed the operation, which Russian sources said involved approximately 200 drones.
Three Russian warships sustained confirmed damage in the Novorossiysk strike. The minesweeper Valentin Pikul, a Project 266M vessel, reportedly suffered the most significant damage. Two Project 1124M Albatros-class anti-submarine ships, the Yeysk and the Kasimov, were also hit. Russian authorities reported three sailors killed and between 14 and 16 wounded.
Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces confirmed that two Russian Black Sea Fleet frigates, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, were damaged during a Ukrainian strike on the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk on March 2.
Beyond naval targets, Ukrainian drones struck the Sheskharis oil terminal, one of southern Russia’s largest crude oil export facilities. Six of seven oil loading arms were reportedly damaged, sparking a large fire. Ukrainian forces also claimed hits on Russian air defense systems, including the 30N6E2 guidance radar of an S-300PMU-2 system and a Pantsir-S2 short-range air defense system.
Novorossiysk became the fleet’s primary base after repeated Ukrainian attacks forced Russia to abandon Sevastopol in Crimea as a safe harbor. The Black Sea Fleet has suffered substantial losses since 2022, including the flagship cruiser Moskva and multiple landing ships, patrol vessels, and submarines.
The back-to-back strikes in Crimea and Novorossiysk demonstrate Ukraine’s sustained ability to threaten Russian naval forces across the entire Black Sea region. As one Ukrainian official noted, Russia appears to have no safe harbor remaining for its battered fleet.
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