Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack targeting the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where Moscow’s once-revered Black Sea Fleet is hiding after it was forced to abandon its Crimean base in Sevastopol.

Russian officials restricted beach access after reporting its defence forces were engaged in repelling the drones, but claimed to have destroyed the threat.

“We kindly request you to refrain from visiting beach areas, embankments and recreational areas along the water’s edge during operational activities,” Mayor Andrei Kravchenko said on the Telegram.

The Russian ministry of defence claimed to have destroyed 12 drones launched at Russian territory.

Satellites detected large fires in the area of the Novorossiysk port, which is one of Russia’s largest and serves as a major outlet for crude oil and oil products exports and transit in Russia’s south.

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