Major Russian Oil Terminal Ablaze After Ukrainian Drone Attack – Reports - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
March 2, 2026
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A Ukrainian drone attack on Monday targeted Russia’s Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, damaging residential buildings, injuring three people, and sparking a fire near one of Russia’s largest oil export facilities. Regional authorities reported that fragments from downed drones caused damage to several homes, with two women and a man hospitalized after being struck inside their residence. The attack occurred overnight, coinciding with reports of multiple drone sightings across southern Russia, including over Crimea and other regions.
The Sheskharis oil terminal, a critical transshipment hub near the site of the attack, has been a frequent target for Ukrainian drone strikes since the start of the war. This facility is known to support Russian military operations in Ukraine, making it a strategic target for Ukrainian forces aiming to disrupt Russia’s energy exports. While Russian officials claimed their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 67 over the Black Sea and 66 in the Krasnodar region, independent reports suggested some damage occurred.
The attack disrupted air traffic across southern Russia, leading to delays or cancellations of dozens of domestic and international flights at airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Gelendzhik. Affected routes included those to major global hubs like Istanbul, Tel
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 3/2/2026