LONDON — Russia’s Protection Ministry claimed to have shot down 130 Ukrainian drones on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, in what seems to be amongst Kyiv’s largest ever long-range strike into Russian territory.
Moscow mentioned that 85 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the southern Russian area of Krasnodar Krai, with 30 extra over Crimea. One other eight drones had been downed over the Sea of ​​Azov, 5 over the Black Sea and one every over Bryansk and Kursk areas, the ministry mentioned.
The drones over Krasnodar appeared to mass across the Black Sea port of Tuapse, which sits between the resort metropolis of Sochi and the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk.
Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev mentioned a number of homes within the Krasnodar Krai area had been broken by drone strikes or falling particles.
On this handout {photograph} taken on Feb. 24, 2025 and launched by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on Feb. 25, 2025, allied leaders go to an exhibition of the newest drones in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Handout/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER
Andriy Kovalenko, the top of the Counter-Disinformation Middle working as a part of Ukraine’s Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, mentioned on Telegram that Russian authorities “reported an assault on the seaport in Tuapse,” which he described as “one of many key cargo ports of the Russian Federation on the Black Sea.”
“There may be an oil terminal there — one of many largest in Russia,” Kovalenko added. “Oil and oil merchandise are transported by the port, which makes it necessary for the Russian power trade.”
Kovalenko mentioned the port processes important volumes of coal, mineral fertilizers, steel merchandise and grain, plus serves as a rail and logistics hub for Russia’s central and southern areas.
Firefighters work at a website of a Russian drone strike within the Kyiv area of Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2025.
State Emergency Service Of Ukrai/by way of Reuters
“The port performs an necessary function in supporting army logistics,” Kovalenko wrote. “It’s used to move tools, ammunition and gasoline for army wants. It gives logistical help to the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, specifically these concerned within the struggle in opposition to Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s air drive, in the meantime, reported one other evening of Russian cross-border assaults on Tuesday evening. The air drive mentioned Russia fired 177 drones into Ukraine, of which 110 had been shot down and 66 had been misplaced in flight.
The air drive reported engagements in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad and Sumy areas.
