A series of drone attacks targeted a major Russian oil terminal and other infrastructure in southern Russia on March 1 and 2, 2026, raising concerns about escalating attacks on Russian territory amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The incidents come as global attention has been focused on developments in the Middle East, but underscore that the conflict in Ukraine remains a critical international issue.
More: Drones, rockets and a strong earthquake at the largest Russian port on the Black Sea (VIDEO)
The latest attacks centered on Novorossiysk, Russia’s largest Black Sea port and the country’s second-largest port overall. The Sheshkharis oil terminal, a significant facility, was reportedly struck and caught fire – an occurrence that has happened previously following Ukrainian drone strikes.
Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the Sheskharis oil terminal in the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight on March 2.
Fires were reported at the site, a key export terminal linked to Russia’s state-owned pipeline company Transneft. pic.twitter.com/FPbx76i2Lu
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 2, 2026
The Russian opposition Telegram channel ASTRA geolocated multiple videos showing the extent of the damage. Andrey Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk, confirmed in his Telegram channel that all movement in the Sheshkharis area was prohibited. He stated approximately 20 minutes later that efforts to counter the drone attack were ongoing, and earlier reported fires had broken out in two locations within Novorossiysk, damaging two residential buildings and five houses. He later added that five people were injured.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 57 long-range drones were downed over Russian territory between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM Moscow time on March 1. Eighteen were shot down over the Black Sea, 15 over Crimea, and nine over the Sea of Azov. Between 11:00 PM on March 1 and 7:00 AM on March 2, the number of downed drones rose significantly to 172. Sixty-seven were reportedly destroyed over the Black Sea, 66 over the Krasnodar region, where Novorossiysk is located, 23 over Crimea, and eight over the Sea of Azov.
Ukrainian FP-1/2 long-range strike drones caught in the lens over Novorossyisk. Currently there is lots of air defense activity in Novorossyisk, still battling incoming Ukrainian strike drones. #Ukraine https://t.co/cSSKPnDtGN pic.twitter.com/PFdMG7vZCm
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) March 1, 2026
The Sheshkharis oil terminal is a large offshore complex used for receiving, storing, and loading oil and petroleum products onto tankers. It is one of the largest and most strategically important oil terminals in Russia, playing a key role in the operation of the port of Novorossiysk and the country’s overall export infrastructure in southern Russia. The terminal was previously damaged in a drone attack in November 2025.
Separately, power outages were reported in Sevastopol following Ukrainian drone strikes there:
Occupied Sevastopol is without power following a drone attack. pic.twitter.com/xZXDBZ53CV
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 1, 2026
