At least two people have been killed and seven injured after Ukrainian drones targeted central Novorossiysk, a Black Sea port city in southern Russia, during lunchtime on Wednesday, according to local authorities. Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev condemned the “horrific” strike, stating it hit near a hotel in the city center. He initially reported three injuries but later updated the number to seven, including a minor, with all victims hospitalized and three in serious condition.
Seven residential buildings, including the hotel, and 20 vehicles were damaged, authorities said. Kondratyev noted that “all services have been placed on high alert” and the attack was still being repelled. Video footage from Russian media showed students taking shelter in school corridors, while eyewitness clips captured maritime drones approaching the city and burning cars in a parking lot.
Russian defenses claimed to have destroyed at least five Ukrainian maritime drones near the coastline, according to the SHOT Telegram channel. The strike also damaged the office of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a joint venture involving Russian, Kazakh, and international energy firms like Chevron and ExxonMobil, which reported two injured workers.
Emergency services were dispatched to rescue at least three people trapped in the basement of an electric scooter rental building. Novorossiysk, a key hub for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has seen increased targeting by Ukrainian drones, particularly as attacks on Sevastopol, another major naval base, have intensified. Moscow has repeatedly labeled such strikes as “terrorism.”
