Watch: Ukrainian drones attack Russia’s Black Sea naval base

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

Russian officials restricted beach access after reporting that its forces were attempting to repel the drones, but have since 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,” Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk, said on 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.