Ukraine Drones Cripple Russian Frigates in Novorossiysk
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- Ukraine launched a coordinated drone and missile strike on August 12th, targeting Russian warships and port infrastructure in Novorossiysk, confirming damage to at least four vessels.
- Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, two Project 11356R frigates, sustained moderate damage near their forward Vertical Launch System banks, likely disabling their ability to fire surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles.
- Black Sea Fleet lost nearly half its long-range missile launching capability after the attack, with both frigates and a Buyan-M corvette—capable of launching Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles—damaged in home port.
- Novorossiysk’s on-shore facilities were also hit, including the grain terminal, a 30N6E radar for an S-300 air defense system, and a tanker near the oil terminal, disrupting logistics and defenses.
- Ukraine employed jet-powered drones, Neptune cruise missiles, and sea-based suicide drones in the operation, marking a significant escalation in range and coordination against Russian naval assets.
- Satellite imagery confirmed the extent of the damage, showing concentrated hits on key systems and secondary fire damage, supporting Ukrainian claims of successful degradation of Russian combat power.
Why it matters: With two of its three most capable frigates now mission-inhibitingly damaged and missile capacity halved, the Black Sea Fleet can no longer project power beyond its port—crippling Russia’s naval dominance in the region while Ukraine gains leverage over Black Sea access. This shifts the balance for grain exports and military resupply on both sides.
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