The Black Sea has become an increasingly important battleground in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukrainian sea drones launching an attack on the major Russian port of Novorossiysk, damaging a naval ship and halting maritime traffic for a few hours. This marks the first time a commercial Russian port has been targeted in the 18-month conflict.
According to an official with the Security Service of Ukraine, the attack was carried out by the country’s navy, and the landing ship, Olenegorsky Gornyak, suffered a serious breach, leaving it unable to carry out its combat missions. Images posted on social media showed a ship listing, and the attack resulted in significant damage and a huge fire at grain facilities in the Odesa region.
The attack is seen as a significant escalation in the conflict, and Ukrainian officials have hailed the success of the operation, with Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that “drones are changing the rules of the game… and ultimately destroying the value of the Russian fleet”. The end of the grain deal, which allowed ships carrying food from Ukrainian ports to pass through the Black Sea safely, has “untied Kyiv’s hands”, according to Ukrainian military analyst Roman Svytan, and it is expected that the frequency of attacks on Russian ships will only increase.
The Russian navy has long controlled the seas in the war, with its ships firing on major ports and cities across Ukraine and largely blockading the country’s coast. However, the recent attacks on Russian ships, including the Olenegorsky Gornyak, suggest that Ukraine is trying to change the dynamic and assert its dominance on the seas. Despite Russia’s superior naval capabilities, Ukraine’s attacks have already destroyed at least two Russian warships, the Saratov landing ship and the fleet’s flagship, the Moskva, and several more have been reportedly damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Via Volodymyr Zelensky/Twitter)
The attack on Novorossiysk is the latest in a series of strikes inside Russia, and it reflects an increase in fighting in the Black Sea following Moscow’s withdrawal from the grain deal. The Kremlin has refused to comment on the attack, while Russian officials have claimed that they repelled the attack and destroyed two of the Ukrainian drones involved.
The conflict has had significant consequences for civilians on both sides of the conflict, with many innocent people caught in the crossfire. Svitlana Sushko, who lost her youngest son in the war, was seen sobbing at his grave in Kyiv, Ukraine. The emotional toll of the conflict is clear, and the ongoing attacks on Russian ports and ships are a stark reminder of the devastating effects of war.
As the conflict continues to escalate, it remains to be seen whether Ukraine’s efforts to assert its dominance on the seas will be successful. However, one thing is clear: the Black Sea has become an increasingly important battleground in the war, and the stakes are high for both sides.
