Novorossiysk: Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday renewed accusations against each other concerning overnight airstrikes, which local authorities in both countries said have killed at least four people.
According to Anadolu Agency, Andrey Kravchenko, mayor of the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, reported that one person was killed following an overnight Ukrainian drone attack that damaged civilian infrastructure. "Most of the fires caused by falling debris have been extinguished. Emergency and operational services continue to work on the ground," Kravchenko stated on the Russian social media platform Max.
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev added that eight others were injured due to strikes in the region, where Novorossiysk is situated, causing damage in other regional settlements such as Volna, Anapa, and Gelendzhik. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the country's air defenses shot down 502 Ukrainian drones over seven regions, including Krasnodar, as well as over the Black Sea and Crimea.
In a subsequent statement on US social media company X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that his country's military executed a "unique operation" targeting Russia's naval base in Novorossiysk. Zelenskyy detailed that the operation involved Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune missiles, and unmanned naval systems, which successfully struck the designated targets including air defense positions, piers, and seaport infrastructure. Russian authorities have not commented on Zelenskyy's remarks, and independent verification of his claims remains challenging due to the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa reported damage to a residential building due to overnight Russian strikes. Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, stated on Telegram that no casualties occurred during the night strike, and municipal services quickly cleaned the area.
Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed that one person was killed and eight others injured due to strikes in the southeastern region, noting that an attack overnight hit a shopping center in one of Zaporizhzhia's residential areas. Additionally, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported two fatalities following Russian attacks on the Tsentralnyi district of the southern region's administrative center.
Ukraine's Air Force claimed its defenses downed 112 out of 138 drones launched by Russia, asserting that several missiles, including an Iskander-M ballistic missile and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles, were launched. Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry alleged a strike on a fuel and lubricants depot in Odesa, which it claimed supplies fuel to Ukraine's Armed Forces, though Ukrainian authorities have not responded to this claim.