Russian military repels Ukrainian attack

The Russian military has repelled attacks by two unmanned Ukrainian drone boats carrying explosives on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday.

The boats were destroyed in the sea, according to the ministry.

Novorossiysk on the Black Sea is a large port where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has stationed many of its warships for use against Ukraine.

The ministry initially did not mention any potential damage. It came after local media reported explosions in the area.

The Russian Defence Ministry also reported repelled drone attacks on the Moscow region as well as the Belgorod and Bryansk regions on the border with Ukraine.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Authorities in Novorossiysk called on residents during the night to remain inside as streets in the coastal part of the city were closed and sirens sounded.

Novorossiysk, in the southwestern Krasnodar region, was attacked by Ukraine several times in May.

On May 17, 44 drones were shot down, with some 30 buildings damaged, according to the authorities.

Russia had launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

After initially focusing on pushing back Russian troops on its territory, Ukraine has since begun to attack targets in the Russian hinterland, to disrupt military supplies.

However, civilians have also been repeatedly impacted by the attacks.

The consequences on the Russian side of the border, however, were relatively small compared to the high number of victims and the massive destruction caused by continuous Russian attacks on Ukraine.