Overnight Drone Strike Kills Child in Russia's Novorossiysk, Damages Port Facilities

An overnight drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk resulted in the death of a child and damage to four industrial enterprises and more than two dozen residential buildings, according to Mayor Andrei Kravchenko. The mayor's statement on Telegram confirmed the casualties and structural damage in the city, which serves as a major hub for oil and grain exports.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of the Krasnodar region, which includes Novorossiysk, reported that eight people, including a child, were injured in the attacks. He also noted that another person was killed and several others wounded in the wider region. Unverified social media posts on Telegram purported to show a large tower of flames and smoke rising from the port area.

In Sevastopol, located in Russia-occupied Crimea, city governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that more than three dozen drones were shot down. The attack caused damage to a few houses, but no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported fresh Russian attacks on their territory. In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a Russian strike caused a fire at a shopping mall, according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. The attack also cut off power to approximately 1,200 consumers in the city. In Odesa, Ukraine's largest seaport, infrastructure was damaged in a separate Russian attack, as reported by Serhiy Lysak, head of the city's military administration.

These exchanges come amid a recent intensification of Russian strikes on Ukrainian food, agriculture, and warehouse facilities, which Moscow has framed as a response to Kyiv's attacks on Russian energy, port, and logistics hubs. The ongoing conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to see reciprocal attacks on infrastructure and civilian areas.