According to British assessments, a suspected Ukrainian attack on oil depots near the Russian port of Novorossiysk shows the vulnerability of the Russian Black Sea fleet. The British Ministry of Defense referred to Russian and Ukrainian media reports in its daily intelligence update on Tuesday, according to which there was an attack on November 18 at an oil terminal near the Russian naval base.
“Not all the details of this incident are known yet,” the ministry said. “But any demonstration that Ukraine has the ability to threaten Novorossiysk would pose another strategic challenge to the Black Sea Fleet. It would also further undermine Russia’s already reduced maritime influence in the Black Sea.
Media had reported that a Ukrainian drone had probably attacked a terminal of the oil company Transneft on the night of November 18. The company denied the reports.