Ukrainian drones targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk early Monday, igniting large fires and damaging critical export infrastructure. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the strike on the Transneft-operated terminal, which serves as the southern endpoint of Russia's oil pipeline system and handles up to 20% of the country's seaborne crude exports, or about 1 million barrels per day.

A source in Ukraine's Security Service said six of the terminal's seven oil-loading stands were hit, along with the pipeline control unit and oil metering station. NASA's Fire Information System detected active blazes at the port between 1:57 a.m. and 3:35 a.m. local time, and videos on social media showed fireballs and tracer fire over the harbor. Russia's Defense Ministry reported damage to a Caspian Pipeline Consortium mooring point, pipeline, and loading terminal, claiming Ukraine aimed to harm international shareholders, including U.S. firms.

The Russian military said air defenses downed 148 Ukrainian drones during a three-hour barrage, with debris causing fires at residential buildings and injuring eight people, including two children. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed attacks on the city but attributed damage to falling drone fragments. Power outages affected nearly 500,000 households, though emergency crews were responding.

Ukraine also claimed hits on a Russian frigate, Admiral Makarov missile carrier, a drilling rig used for surveillance, and a Be-12 anti-submarine aircraft in occupied Crimea. Robert Brovdi, commander of Kyiv's drone forces, stated the operation targeted the warship and rig to disrupt Russian operations.

The Novorossiysk assault marks the latest in Ukraine's campaign against Russian energy assets, intensified amid surging global oil prices from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Previous strikes hit the same Sheskharis terminal on March 2, damaging loading arms, and Baltic ports like Ust-Luga and Primorsk, contributing to a 43% drop in Russian oil exports in late March. Kyiv aims to curb Moscow's war funding, as a U.S. sanctions waiver has allowed higher Russian exports.

In retaliation, Russian strikes on Odesa killed three civilians, including a toddler, and wounded 16 others. The CPC terminal, handling 1.5% of global seaborne oil mostly from Kazakhstan, has faced prior attacks, including in November 2025.