(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukraine has damaged the Russian Black Sea flagship Admiral Makarov in an attack on the naval base at Novorossiysk, as the Russian military intensifies its campaign against Ukrainian cities and trade infrastructure. The confirmation from Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk came as the capital Kyiv reeled from an overnight ballistic missile barrage that killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more.
Mr Pletenchuk told TVP World that the Admiral Makarov was damaged in the latest Ukrainian strike on the Russian naval base. He confirmed that Russian forces still have at least three surface vessels and two submarines in service in the Black Sea, but that two of their main ships, the Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, were damaged during the attack.
“No Russian warships have been observed at sea for several months. They are forced to hide at their base in Novorossiysk,” Mr Pletenchuk said. He added that Russian forces have resorted to launching Kalibr cruise missiles directly from the military port. The missiles used in the 20th August overnight attack on Ukraine were fired from Novorossiysk, he confirmed.
The Ukrainian Navy’s success in pushing Russian warships away from the coastline stands in contrast to the situation on land. In Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, one of the hardest hit areas, residential buildings suffered extensive damage. Oscar Taji, reporting for TVP World from the scene, said the attack began in the early hours of the morning and continued with further strikes later in the day. One additional person was killed when drone debris fell on a building in another part of Ukraine.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said critical water infrastructure was hit during the attack, causing disruptions to parts of the capital’s water supply. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued another plea for air defence interceptor ammunition, stating that Ukraine is effectively powerless against Russian ballistic missiles without additional supplies.
The situation around the port of Odesa is also deteriorating. Russia has stepped up attacks on port infrastructure and civilian shipping, with several merchant vessels damaged. Navigation through the port of Greater Odesa is currently suspended, putting pressure on one of Ukraine’s most important exports: grain.
Ukraine is seeking alternative routes, including transporting grain through Moldova to the Romanian port of Constanța. However, Moldovan farmers are threatening protests, concerned that increased Ukrainian grain transit could hurt their own exports. The battle for the Black Sea, therefore, extends beyond warships and missiles to the fundamental question of whether Ukraine can keep its trade routes open.
The Russian Navy’s forced retreat to Novorossiysk represents a significant strategic shift. Ukraine has effectively denied Russia freedom of movement in the western Black Sea, despite possessing no major surface combatants of its own. The use of naval drones and long-range strike capabilities has forced the Russian fleet into a defensive posture.
However, the human cost of Russia’s continued aerial campaign remains severe. The latest attack on Kyiv follows the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the full-scale invasion began, with 54 people killed in the capital alone in July.
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