General Staff confirms damage to four Russian ships in Novorossiysk

Ukraine's Defense Forces struck Russia's naval base in Novorossiysk on the night of August 12. According to preliminary data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, four Russian warships sustained varying degrees of damage.

The General Staff reported the strikes on two Project 11356 frigates, "Admiral Makarov" and "Admiral Essen," a Project 21631 Buyan-M small missile ship, and a Project 22160 patrol ship "Vasily Bykov." The extent of damage to each is still being clarified.

The Security Service of Ukraine had earlier reported strikes on three ships – "Admiral Makarov," "Admiral Essen," and "Vasily Bykov." Thus, the latest General Staff summary expanded the preliminary list of damaged targets to four ships.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed the operation against the naval base in Novorossiysk, calling it the last major stronghold of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. The attack affected the city's military and port infrastructure.

Novorossiysk has gained particular importance for the Russian Black Sea Fleet after a series of Ukrainian strikes on military facilities in occupied Crimea. Russia moved some ships there in an attempt to reduce their vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.

The two frigates mentioned in the current General Staff report have already been hit this year. After the attack on the base in Novorossiysk on March 2, the Ukrainian military later confirmed damage to "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov."

"Admiral Makarov" and "Admiral Essen" are among the ships capable of employing Kalibr cruise missiles. In particular, the SBU previously established that Kalibr missiles were launched from "Admiral Makarov" in August 2025 during a Russian strike on a plant in Mukachevo.

The General Staff emphasizes that information about the consequences of the operation remains preliminary. The final assessment of damage to the Russian ships may change after further verification of the data.