(NOVOROSSIYSK, RUSSIA) – Ukrainian forces have struck four Russian warships in a single overnight attack on the port city of Novorossiysk, damaging two Kalibr carrying frigates, a missile ship, and a patrol vessel. The attack, which took place three nights ago, involved over 400 Ukrainian drones and missiles, including jet drones, Neptune missiles, and naval drones.
Satellite images have confirmed the damage to the vessels. Among the ships hit were the Admiral Essen, previously damaged on 23rd May this year and again on 6th April, and another ship that had been avoiding Ukrainian drones for four years before finally being caught. A patrol ship and a minesweeper also sustained damage.
The attack has crippled Russian grain exports from the port. The Delo Group has suspended operations at its grain terminal in Novorossiysk. Two grain export terminals were destroyed and one was damaged. Russia is no longer exporting grain from the port city of Novorossiysk.
A Russian involved in the grain export business described the situation in stark terms. “That’s it. It’s over. Unloading has stopped everywhere completely. All the grain elevators in Proletarsk, Zimovniki, Rostov operated for literally two days, Monday and Tuesday, and today it stopped unloading in the morning,” he said. “None of the exporters are accepting grain right now. Absolutely none. No one nowhere. There is no good news.”
The source added that Turkey briefly closed the Dardanelles Straits to ships heading to Novorossiysk over the weekend. “A huge number of producers are now ready to sell at relatively any price. But for now, unfortunately, there’s nowhere to transport it,” he said.
In response to the escalating situation, Ukraine proposed a mutual halt to Black Sea attacks on civilian shipping and port infrastructure. Russia dismissed the idea of a Black Sea ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries distribution centre and an oil refinery in Bashkortostan. This marks the twentieth warehouse that Ukraine has struck belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant. Wildberries sellers have reported payment delays after the strikes, with no payments received for goods sold after 3rd August.
Ukrainian drones also hit Russia’s Ust-Luga oil port for the sixth time this year. The facility is located on the Baltic Sea near St Petersburg. Additionally, Ukraine struck the Gazprom Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan again, as fuel shortages have returned to 16 Russian regions.
The Orsk oil refinery in Orenburg Oblast has been knocked offline for approximately six months, according to the regional governor. Key equipment was damaged and will need to be imported before repairs can be completed. The Orenburg region has imposed fuel rationing, with retail petrol sales cut to 40 litres per car. An odd even system will be introduced at petrol stations in Kaluga.
In occupied Crimea, Ukrainian drones caused blackouts in Sevastopol and hit the Balaclava power plant. This is part of an ongoing operation by Magyar’s Birds, a unit of the Ukrainian forces, targeting energy infrastructure in occupied territories. The operation has been running since 1st July and has struck targets in Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Mariupol, and Luhansk.
The logistics lockdown on Russian supply lines continues. Ukrainian SBU Alpha units report destroying or damaging 2,400 Russian vehicles, command vehicles, and other military equipment in the last month. Between 20 and 30 long haul transport vehicles, including cargo trucks and fuel tankers, are being destroyed daily.
On the front line, Ukraine has announced the liberation of 26 villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The Deep State map update confirms Ukrainian advances in areas Russia had previously claimed to control.
In a significant development, a 38 year old Russian man has reported receiving a conscription notice despite being eight years older than the official conscription age limit of 30. The man, who has never served in the military, said he received the summons through Gosuslugi, the Russian government services portal. “This is effing crazy. I received a draft summons today. I’m 38 years old,” he said.
President Zelenskyy has made an urgent appeal for additional Patriot air defence systems. In an interview with CNN, he said Ukraine currently has only one percent of the PAC 3 interceptors needed to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. “If the Americans sell us five percent PAC 3 interceptors, nothing else, we will go through the winter and save people’s lives. If they can sell us ten percent, we can destroy all Russian ballistic missiles,” he said.
A Centre for Strategic and International Studies report estimates that 65 percent of America’s 2,300 Patriot missiles have been used. Each missile costs over $3 million (approximately £2.3 million). Production from Raytheon is about 600 interceptors per year.
The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its territory. Japan has designated Russia as a source of major threats in its latest military doctrinal documents.
In positive news for Ukraine, Finland has backed a €28.5 million (approximately $31 million or £24 million) power plant project. Moldova has overtaken every EU country as Ukraine’s top dairy buyer. Estonia has pledged nearly €400,000 (approximately $440,000 or £340,000) for Ukraine’s winter preparation.
President Zelenskyy visited the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk, where he paid his respects at a local memorial for Ukrainian defenders who have given their lives over the last four and a half years.
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