Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine hits Russia’s Black Sea naval base
Ukraine Strikes Russia's Black Sea Fleet Hub as Kherson Endures Overnight Barrage
Novorossiysk Naval Base Hit in Major Ukrainian Operation
Poinews.com – In the early hours of Wednesday, Ukrainian forces launched a significant assault on the Novorossiysk naval base, situated along Russia's Black Sea coastline. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the mission as an unprecedented strike against what remains Russia's principal maritime stronghold in the region, located over 300 kilometres from active combat zones.
Ukraine has carried out a unique operation targeting the naval base in Novorossiysk — the last major stronghold of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, more than 300 kilometres from the front line.
Officials confirmed that impacts were registered on air defence installations, docking piers, and seaport facilities. Video evidence shared on Russian social platforms captured orange bursts from anti-aircraft systems and blue laser beams from counter-drone weapons cutting through darkness, followed by a dense grey haze settling over the city by morning.
As Russia's foremost commercial port on the Black Sea, Novorossiysk has emerged as the central hub for the remnants of the Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine's deployment of naval drones successfully pushed most of the Russian fleet away from Crimea, transforming this port's strategic importance. Beyond its military role, the facility manages a substantial portion of Russian oil shipments, elevating its value as a target.
Russian officials reported that an eight-year-old child perished in Novorossiysk during the attack, while seven additional individuals sustained injuries, one of them a minor. Debris from the strikes damaged 21 structures across the city, with social media imagery revealing apartment buildings with shattered windows and vehicles engulfed in flames.
Kherson Suffers Casualties Amid Continued Russian Assaults
Simultaneously, Kherson experienced deadly Russian missile and drone bombardments overnight on Wednesday. The southern Ukrainian city recorded two fatalities and eight injuries from the coordinated strikes. According to the city's administrator, one victim succumbed after their residence was directly hit during the attack.
Positioned on the western shore of the Dnipro river, Kherson faces Russian-occupied territory across the water. Since Russian troops withdrew from the city in November 2022 and established positions on the eastern bank, residents have endured nearly constant shelling with minimal protection from artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles.
A second death was confirmed in the village of Volna, where drone fragments struck the garden of a private home. Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev also reported two additional injuries in the Black Sea coastal resort town of Gelendzhik. He stated that "several hundred" Ukrainian drones targeted the broader Krasnodar region during the operation.
Russia's Overnight Attack on Ukrainian Cities
Ukraine's air force reported that Russian forces deployed ballistic missiles alongside 138 Shahed-type drones during the overnight assault. The primary targets included the Odesa region in the south and Sumy in the northeast. Officials confirmed that 112 of the 138 drones were either destroyed or intercepted.
The attack in Odesa, Ukraine's largest port city and principal grain export center on the Black Sea, temporarily halted port activities. Since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Odesa has faced repeated bombardments. Moscow has consistently targeted the port infrastructure as part of efforts to undermine Ukraine's agricultural export income, which helps finance the ongoing conflict.
Russia's defence ministry claimed to have shot down 502 Ukrainian drones overnight across its territory and the Black Sea, though these self-reported numbers have historically proven unreliable, and Euronews could not independently verify the claims.
Escalating Ukrainian Long-Range Campaign
Ukraine has markedly increased its long-range strikes against Russian territory since mid-2025. This escalation follows a period when Western allies removed limitations on using supplied weapons to target locations within Russia. Kyiv maintains that the intensified campaign directly responds to Russia's daily attacks on Ukrainian urban centers and civilian infrastructure.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine?Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine matter?Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.