Ukrainian drones struck a Russian commercial port for the first time since the start of the war. Novorossiysk was shut down for a few hours after it was hit by Ukrainian air and sea drones. Two percent of the world’s oil supply and grain are shipped from Novorossiysk.
The Russian Defense Ministry claims that it was able to down several drones targeting its ports on Friday morning. Moscow says its defenses were able to disable Kiev’s drones targeting the Crimean Peninsula and Novorossiysk, a port located on the Russian mainland. The Russian military dubbed the Ukrainian strikes a “terrorist attack.”
Kiev claims it carried out the attack. Ukrainian officials often deny responsibility for attacks conducted inside of Russia, in part because Kiev has made several assurances to Washington that it would not use American assurance to target Russian territory.
The Associated Press published satellite photos of Novorossiysk appearing to show a damaged Russian ship at the port. The Security Service of Ukraine says it struck the Olenegorsky Gornyak, a Russian landing vessel. Some outlets are reporting the ship was severely damaged and leaking oil.
A Ukrainian source speaking with Reuters asserted that the Olenegorsky Gornyak was unable to engage in combat due to the damage. “As a result of the attack, the Olenegorsky Gornyak received a serious breach and currently cannot conduct its combat missions,” the source said. “All the Russian statements about a ‘repelled attack’ are fake.”
A retired Ukrainian military official told Reuters that the attack demonstrated a significant step up in abilities for Kiev as the drone flew an estimated 460 miles. “It was the first time … the Ukrainian navy projected power so far away,” he said.
Novorossiysk is reported to have resumed normal operations within hours of the attack.
Kiev has increased its attacks inside Russia and on civilian infrastructure in recent months as Ukrainian forces have been unable to break Russia’s defenses on the battlefield. Last month, Ukraine targeted the bridge that connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian militias, with members who are openly neo-Nazis, have used American weapons to carry out attacks inside of Russia. Some of the militants say they are working in coordination with Kiev.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
Escalation, as expected. The longer this goes on the wider the conflict. It’s a safe bet that this attack was done only with U.S. knowledge and approval. The Military Summary Channel believes the drones were launched from Romania.
And logistics. Kiev does not have its own satellites that I know of.
I think you’re right. It is very likely that the U.S. (or some western power) provided the necessary guidance for the drones.
Tankie logic is starting to sway toward, “NATO must be doing this!” It shows me that you guys are starting to accept the Russian losses. Good for you, gang!
I’ve thought since early 2014 that the west, primarily the U.S. was responsible the Ukraine disaster. Starting withe the U.S. engineered 2014 coup, NATO arming and training of the Ukrainian military since 2014. And the SMO which could have been avoided had the U.S. been willing to back off.
And I’m not a tankie. Born in the U.S. Served in the U.S. Army, Worked in the U.S. all my life. Frankly, given what the U.S. democracy has given the world (constant war), Socialism or Communism looks more and more attractive.
Thanks for your service!
However, your last statement kinda makes you a tankie.
Maybe tankie adjacent?
Judging from the current Ukraine offensive, their losses left them with only a meager few second rate drones. I Think that the Russian hypersonics trump the Ukie Drones, not to mention that they still have a credible Air Force and Navy plus sone very powerful tactical weapons.
Does the harbor move around? This looks like GPS to get you to the harbor followed by starlink TV to an operator for final guidance. A ship at sea however? That smacks of a friendly phone call from someone who might be operating giant reconnaissance drones.
We likely were before the screens directing its travel.
The feed of course was possible because we are there too.
The Ukrainians were involved too.
Someone had to make the tea and biscuits for those running the show but we will embellish that into them running the whole operation.
Victoria’s cookies with the tea…………………
Looks like that fat tub of goo ate most of them!
And I would wager that the marine drones came from the UK.
England for the most part. Pentagon just play coordination role.
Let say you’re right (and you probably are). So, what now? More tough talk from the tiny man, Putin?
OK.
At least it was not a building facade like their big “success” of the other day.
It is not going to cut off anything but at least they are trying.
Give them a cookie.
Novorossiysk is not only a commercial port. It is the second major port of the Black Sea Fleet, after Sevastopol. That’s why the Olenegorsky Gornyak was there. Among other things, Novorossyisk is also a major submarine base.
An attack on that port by Ukraine certainly is not terrorism, but it is extremely likely to trigger significant Russian retaliation.
It looks like a Ukrainian drone may have hit and seriously damaged a Russian oil tanker about 30 miles south of the Kerch Strait early on Saturday local time.
Bianca is probably right, below, where she says that these attacks are simply what Ukraine can do when it cannot make significant progress in its attempted offensive against Russian forces on the ground. They make for encouraging stories for the Western press, but they can’t have any meaningful impact on the course of the war.
The disaster continues.
“significant Russian retaliation” is what US is counting on but unfortunately Putin is playing purgatory chess. Agonizingly slow and boring.
Agreed. The Ukrainians still have the oil and electricity necessary to keep the war going. Putin could have taken all that out by now and several times. Maybe he’s trying to win a beauty contest–not a an actual war? How long will the Russian people allow him to send their soldiers with water pistoles to a gun fight? Who knows!? I don’t! (Bad Sarcasm)
Russians can be pretty effective even with water pistols. That DPR T80 taking on 2 Leopards and 6 IFVs was epic.
I agree. I would not want to make the Russians my enemies.
I’m pretty sure me and my friends could take the Russians right now. Hahaha.
And yet, Ukraine is still winning…
Thanks for the laugh.. Keep ’em coming..
“Maybe he’s trying to win a beauty contest–not a an actual war?”
No, pretty clearly, Putin is fighting a war of attrition while trying to avoid a direct hot war with NATO. Because he knows that if that happens, World War There Ain’t No More cold easily be the next step.
But there are definitely many very impatient people in Russia.
It is how it goes. Russia judged quite correctly that Ukraine frustration with stalled counteroffensive had to result in a show of force elsewhere. Ukraine cannot claim “unprovoked” Russian military actions. An inflection point is coming. Let’s see how it looks like.
Nothing will come of it. Most Ukrainians and Americans have the same commonality when it comes to deep intellect.
Something myst be happening. CNN poll published today shows that majority of Americans do not support funding for Ukrainian war. Majority do not support arming Ukraine and the only support that is supported is intelligence sharing. In fact CNN poll parsed questions so finelly as to get at least one positive answer.
Of course our Derp State that is Dark Mind — will do what they wish anyway.
Exactly. Polls means nothing. DC war pigs will have their way.
Oh suddenly CNN becomes a reliable MSM source.
How convenient.
So you believe only what you like to believe. CNN may not be great, but it isn’t Fox News.
We do have a short attention span and this thing is dragging on. Now it looks like Putin is planning on waiting to the next US election hoping for a more favorable administration.
(Oh suddenly CNN becomes a reliable MSM source ). NO, not so suddenly CNN becomes a reliable source of humorous GUFFAWS…!!!!!!
Not at all. But the very fact that they, cheerleaders for all US wars, would report something so far out of character makes it at least plausible. And it’s a poll, it’s not an opinion.
Well , that frustration just took out two big ships. I think it’s delivering results.
“Ukraine cannot claim unprovoked military actions”
The F you talking about ?
You must believe the invasion and annexation of Ukraine was just a friendly gesture.
You are seriously lost.
Not so much lost as feckless
The Ukes should be afraid they are increasing the number of submarines Russia has in her fleet!
It might have bee here that I read submarines are useless as they mix water temperatures at any depth and are visible using Infrared sensors.
I think you missed my sarcasm…
Okay. You made me laugh.
The F you talking about? The invasion was provoked.
I’ll say it again (and again):
F**k around and find out.
And again (and again) it’s just a dumb statement that means squat.
You know EXACTLY what it means.
And it doesn’t apply. I can give you 6,000 reasons why. So, your statement applies more to WW3 than NATO putting a whoopass on Russia.
Ukraine is putting the whoopass on Russia. NATO doesn’t need to lift a finger…yet.
Putin would be eliminated before he ever got close to launching nukes. Knock that garbage off.
You have an odd way of judging who is “winning”. Ukraine has lost territory and it is their country that is being destroyed. And you don’t have a clue what Russia’s reaction will be if their ass, at some point, is truly against the wall.
Putin might be eliminated because he isn’t hardline enough. But regardless the chances of Russia changing course are slim whether it’s Putin or his replacement in charge.
Ukraine has gained back territory and Putin isn’t going to do sh*t. Grow up
So “whoopass” means you are gaining territory back that you lost?
And since you obviously don’t read articles here, I’ll post this one:
https://news.antiwar.com/2023/08/02/no-breakthroughs-for-ukrainian-forces-in-counteroffensive/
Russia, you keep saying Putin, hasn’t done shit (nukes) because they haven’t had to. Their ass isn’t against the wall. They hold Ukrainian territory and Ukraine’s backers won’t push the envelope far enough to get into a direct clash with Russia. Some “Whoopass”.
Isn’t it past time the Americans stopped pretending that strikes by Ukrainian puppets aren’t possible without direct US targeting data, as well as likely, direct US actions affecting the manner in which the drones are maneuvered?
I for one find it unlikely that the yokels from Kiev are capable of doing anything on their own, beyond getting US and European equipment blown up.
It was a really dumb thing to do. It shows how vulnerable warships are to such tactics. Guess what country has the most warships and the most expensive fleets? Hint: It’s not Russia.
That would be the same country that will need to use that awesome navy in its upcoming war against China, on China’s home shore, which is about 6.5K miles from “that country’s” home shore (only 5K from Pearl Harbor, though 😏).
What could go wrong?
More like, After Afghanistan, and now another loser fiasco in Ukraine:::: WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO RIGHT…..!!!!????
Sure but that bell can’t be unrung. Our super expensive ships operate hundreds of miles offshore surrounded by a screen of lower value ships ( still 1 billion pop). Throw AI into the mix and it sure looks like navies are going to want to stay way out to sea. The first sign of trouble in the Persian gulf won’t be US carriers rushing into the gulf, it will be US carries rushing out of the gulf.
Carriers today are what battleships were in the beginning of WW 2. Big, expensive, vulnerable and tactically useless.
depends right? If you want to $hit all over some third world country, they are fantastic. If you want to fight WW3 with some formidable adversary then maybe not.
THERE IS NO MAYBE ABOUT IT…..!!!!!!!
AGREED….. Missiles are cheap, fast and effective!!! DRONES EVEN CHEAPER AND NO DEAD AMERICAN BODIES TO TRY TO CLAIM/RECOVER…!!!!!!!
Oh yeah. When Russians launched a volley of Kalibrs from the Caspian on targets in Syria, that aircraft carrier was running on water out of Persian Gulf with her skirt up.
On bonus of this war is the US has had a good chance to look at Russian weapons in operation. This will improve their ability to defend against them. Certainly out at sea the destroyer screen for the carrier is many miles deep and that can’t be done inside the confines of the Persian gulf.
Yep. Pretty cowardly way but nobody ever accused imperial parasites or English or Pentagon rats of being courageous or brave. Russians seem to be aware of it and not going full force, yet.
Desperation mostly. All these imperial boats are completely useless because of hypersonic weapons. Russians or Chinese don’t need small drones to completely annihilate imperial fleet. Few hypersonic missiles will do the trick.
Agreed. And…don’t laugh…there has been an article at the Washington Post seriously suggesting that Ukraine blew up the Nordstream pipelines.
Why not? I do find degenerate propaganda rags like WashPo, NYT and WSJ to be very amusing. In fact, the entire imperial propaganda machine is one, very large circus.
Putin is spending a whole lot of political credit by allowing these terrorist attacks to continue. He needs to deal with Anglo-American empire in a decisive way. These parasites should have been put back in their place long time ago. Tolerating Anglo-American aggression will only lead to a global war.
Political credit with who? The Russian hardliners?
Russian people first of all and allied nations.
If this happened to the US, say Norfolk Virginia, it would be very difficult for any President to not make a strong forceful military move.
China just TALKED about military cooperation with Cuba, and US politicians discussed strong retaliation. Chinese missiles in Cuba are a big threat to the US.
US / NATO / Ukraine keeps taunting Russia with attacks that are high on emotional sensationalism and not so much on military value. Making them finally snap might be a USA USA USA moment, but the cost is likely to be high.
That is the main problem! Because when Russian snap, it’s really bad f()cking news.
Which is why events like this make me sad.
The upside is that I am spending more time and effort with my wife. 😉 So if it all ends safely some day, I will have benefitted from a closer happier marriage.
First, attacking a naval base and a naval vessel isn’t in the same dimension as terrorism. It’s perfectly usual and legal action in war.
Also, responding to Anglo-American aggression imprudently is more likely to lead to global war than what you see as tolerating it. Putin obviously understands that and acts accordingly. He is right to do so. There will be no winners in WWIII.
Russia is already at war with the Anglo-American empire. Tolerating aggression and pretending there is no war will not help Eurasia. Decisive action is needed by Kremlin and Beijing to educate these imperial pests, before this does spin out of control.
Perhaps this is naive. But I wonder if a seaborne drone could be stopped with a relatively inexpensive boom. Having seen the video of the drone that hit the ship, it doesn’t look as if these drones are very large or powerful. A floating boom might even provide the means to capture one. Obviously, it wouldn’t be practical in open sea. But in a port area, it might work.
NATO has already lost; 458 Aircraft, 245 helicopters, 5518 UAV’s, 428 Anti Aircraft systems, 11130 tanks inc. APC’s, 1142 multiple rocket launchers, 5768 rocket launchers and 12071 military automotive equipment.
There is a strategic need for Russia to fight NATO in a war of attrition. Russia will grind down NATO nations until it becomes existential to them. And then sue for peace on Russia’s terms. War crimes tribunals will be a part of that surrender.
No elections, forced gunpoint conscription, anti retreat troops, book burning, banning of free speech, looting of churches, arresting church leaders, government death hit lists, mass murder of civilians, ethnic cleansing campaigns, assassination of peace negotiators, bombing of Nuclear power stations, bio weapons labs, destruction of Europe’s energy infrastructure, terrorism, kidnapping, rape, torture, massive human rights abuses etc etc etc.
Yep this is a Western war for freedom and democracy right? Up is Down, Black is White its all just big lies after big lies. Hence the state sponsored censorship campaigns to hide the truth.
Millions of tanks, aircraft, equipment, people, dogs, cats, etc!
Hahaha
As a result of the shelling by the NATO Ukrainian Armed Forces, two women were killed, ten more civilians were wounded in the Donetsk city agglomeration over the past day.
The Ukrainian military failed completely on the frontlines and did what any NATO force does when defeated, they continued the bloody attacks on civilians, using NATO supplied cluster munitions, in the regions that succeeded from the Nazi’s in Kiev after NATO violently overthrew the government in Ukraine.
NATO in Ukraine is committing horrendous acts of brutality against local populations defending themselves from the NATO onslaught.
This NATO bloodbath is an obscenity, worse than the supreme international crime, pure evil. And no peace in sight. All western leaders must go before the Hague to answer for their many many crimes against humanity.
As usual, UA has paid for this action a hundred times over.. Maybe the Pygmy of Kiev isn’t much of a generalissimo field-commander?
Russia targets Ukraine’s ports, Ukraine targets Russia’s, tit for tat, so who cares; but I think Russia is hitting a lot harder here than Ukraine is.
What this attack will do is spur Russia on to devastate Odessa, Mykolaiev, and the Danube ports even more – but maybe that’s the point? Provoke Russia into over-reacting so that the west finally has the excuse they have been looking for to jump in?