Volodymyr Zelensky says a strike targeted Russian fleet's "last major stronghold" in the Black Sea

Ukraine carried out a combined strike with drones, cruise missiles, and maritime drones on Novorossiysk, a Russian Black Sea port, killing three people including a child and forcing major grain terminals there to halt operations. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation and described its target as Russia’s principal remaining naval base in the Black Sea, far behind the front lines. Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of deliberately destabilizing world food markets to serve Western interests. Moscow says such attacks worsen grain shortages and raise prices, while Ukrainian officials have intensified strikes on Russian economic infrastructure this summer. The assault was followed by a jump in grain futures, and Russian attacks on Black Sea shipping have sharply reduced Ukraine’s own grain exports.