Defense Forces struck a Kalibr carrier in Novorossiysk again

On the night of September 9, the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk and hit the Russian frigate "Admiral Essen". The hit caused a fire on the ship's superstructure.

This was reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence, operators of the Department of Active Actions of military intelligence participated in a joint deep strike operation with other components of the Defense Forces. The targets were the infrastructure of the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk and the "Admiral Essen", a Project 11356 frigate.

Intelligence stated that the strikes hit their targets. After the hit, a fire broke out on the upper deck superstructure of the frigate. The Main Directorate of Intelligence has not yet provided other details about the nature and extent of the ship's damage.

"Admiral Essen" is part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and carries Kalibr cruise missiles. Russian forces use missiles of this type for long-range strikes on the territory of Ukraine.

This is at least the second confirmed strike on "Admiral Essen" confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence in the past month. From the night of August 11 to 12, the Defense Forces conducted a large-scale operation against Russian military facilities in Novorossiysk. At that time, the Main Directorate of Intelligence reported hitting two Project 11356 frigates — "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov" — as well as the patrol ship "Vasily Bykov".

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the August operation involved units of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service in coordination with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition to the ships, strikes targeted other military facilities in the base area.

After losing and damaging several ships in occupied Crimea, Russia relocated a significant part of its Black Sea Fleet to Novorossiysk. The base is used, among other things, to berth ships capable of carrying cruise missiles.

The Main Directorate of Intelligence did not specify whether "Admiral Essen" will require repairs after the new hit and whether the frigate still has the ability to use missile weapons.