Overnight drone exchanges kill three as Russia and Ukraine trade blows on port cities
Three people died in reciprocal overnight strikes on Russian and Ukrainian coastal hubs, with Moscow claiming the downing of over 500 Ukrainian drones while Kyiv signals new diplomatic proposals to Washington.
Russia and Ukraine engaged in a night of reciprocal drone strikes that resulted in three fatalities and significant damage to civilian infrastructure in key port cities. The attacks targeted Russia’s Black Sea hub of Novorossiysk and Ukraine’s southern port of Kherson, highlighting the continued vulnerability of logistical centres despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In Novorossiysk, a Ukrainian drone strike killed a child and injured another child and a woman, according to local mayor Andrei Kravchenko. The attack damaged dozens of buildings, including the Novorossiysk grain terminal, which was confirmed damaged by its owner, Demetra Holding. Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported a total of eight injuries across the broader Krasnodar region, describing the events as a "horrific night" for the city.
Conversely, in Ukraine, a Russian Shahed drone attack in Kherson killed two people and injured at least two others, including an elderly woman. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the region’s military administration, confirmed the casualties. Additional Russian strikes caused damage to homes in occupied Crimea and ignited a fire at a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, where regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported power outages for approximately 1,200 consumers.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed to have downed and destroyed 502 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry also stated that a strike on Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport, hit a fuel depot used to supply the Ukrainian army. Serhiy Lysak, head of Odesa’s military administration, confirmed damage to port infrastructure, while Moscow has recently intensified strikes on Ukrainian food and warehouse facilities in response to Kyiv’s attacks on Russian energy and logistics hubs.
Amidst the violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv had submitted proposals to US negotiators for a plan to end the war. According to Ukrainian officials quoted by The Financial Times, Kyiv has committed to halting drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia’s Novorossiysk port following a request from US Vice President JD Vance. However, talks remain largely stalled, with Moscow insisting on Ukraine ceding four annexed regions and resolving what it terms the conflict’s "root causes".
