Ukraine strikes major Russian oil terminal in Novorossiysk with drones, SBU confirms
Editor's Note: Updated at 1:58 PM Kyiv time with new commentary from Ukraine's Security Service.
Ukrainian drones struck the Russian port city of Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai on Nov. 14, damaging an oil terminal and sparking a large fire, multiple Russian Telegram channels and local officials reported.
The attack hit the Sheskharis oil complex, damaging infrastructure facilities and sparking a blaze. The facility is a major oil export terminal that serves as the endpoint for pipelines run by Russia's state-run Transneft, the world's largest oil pipeline company.
Following the attack, Russia temporarily suspended oil exports — equivalent to 2.2 million barrels per day, or roughly 2% of global supply — on Nov. 14, Reuters reported, citing industry sources.
The Krasnodar Krai operational headquarters reported the hit at the oil terminal and said it had damaged several coastal facilities. Officials claimed they had extinguished the fire at the Sheskharis complex.
Russian state media RIA Novosti also reported that a civilian vessel in the port was hit during the mass UAV strike, leaving three crew members injured.
Subsequently, Ukraine's Security Service, or SBU, told the Kyiv Independent that they and elements of Ukraine's armed forces were behind the attack, hitting "oil-loading arms at the wharves, pipeline infrastructure and pumping installations."
The SBU said that powerful fires continued at the terminal as of just before 2 PM Kyiv time on November 14.
Russian air defense units shot down 66 drones over Krasnodar Krai overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The Kyiv Independent could not confirm these claims at the time of publication.
Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, commented on the attack on social media.
"This is the oil terminal in Novorossiysk after the strike," he wrote on Telegram. "Meanwhile, Russia is hitting residential buildings and energy infrastructure."
The strike on Novorossiysk came as Russia pounded Kyiv with waves of drones and missiles during a massive attack that left at least 14 people injured and a dozen apartment buildings in flames.
Novorossiysk, a key hub for Russia's Black Sea logistics and energy infrastructure, has been repeatedly targeted in Ukrainian strikes. Kyiv considers Russian oil refineries and petrochemical facilities to be valid military targets as they help fund Moscow's war efforts.
