Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Russian Frigate in Novorossiisk Port
Ukrainian defense forces carried out a targeted drone strike against the Russian frigate Admiral Makarov at the port of Novorossiisk during the night of April 6, 2026. The operation marks a significant escalation in efforts to neutralize high-value naval assets within Russian territory.
The attack was reported by Robert Brovdi, the head of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, who is known by the call sign “Madiar.” According to Brovdi, the operation was planned and coordinated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and executed by forces from the 1st Center for Unmanned Systems.
While Brovdi initially stated that the target was the frigate Admiral Grigorjevič, he later clarified that the Admiral Makarov was the vessel hit. This specific ship is considered a critical target since it is regularly used to launch Kalibr missiles into Ukrainian territory. The strike underscores Ukraine’s evolving capability to disrupt Russian long-range strike capabilities by targeting the platforms that deploy them.
The impact of the strike was met with a dismissive response from Russian regional authorities. Despite reports of fires at the port, the regional governor characterized the event as minor, claiming that only “drone debris” was found. Brovdi noted that such official denials are a traditional response to these operations.
The incident also highlighted the vulnerability of the Russian Navy’s 11356R project frigates. Brovdi mentioned the Admiral Essen, another vessel of the same class located in Novorossiisk, which had previously sustained damage.
Intelligence data is currently being used to determine the full extent of the damage caused to the Russian assets. This development highlights the growing regional tensions and the strategic importance of the Novorossiisk port as a focal point for naval conflict.
For more details on the conflict, you can view the original report via 15min.lt.
