A dramatic series of explosions shook the Russian port city of Novorossiysk shortly after midnight on November 14, turning the quiet Black Sea shoreline into a scene of blazing flames and thick smoke. The blasts triggered large fires at the Sheskharis oil terminal, one of the most important energy facilities in Russia.
Explosions Rock Novorossiysk as Fires Break Out at Key Russian Oil Hub
Residents of Novorossiysk said the first explosions came without warning. Many people were woken up by loud booms that echoed around the city and nearby areas. Videos posted online captured bright fireballs rising over the port, lighting up the sky.
Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS fire-tracking system later revealed several hotspots across the region. These hotspots matched the locations where the explosions were heard, confirming that major fires had erupted.
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Authorities in Krasnodar region later admitted that an oil storage facility at the Sheskharis complex was damaged. The terminal is a vital part of Russia’s crude oil export system, serving as a main route for petroleum shipments moving through the Black Sea.
Officials added that a civilian ship in the harbor received minor damage, although they did not share additional details.
Drone Strikes Hit Novorossiysk Air-Defense Base in Intense Overnight Assault
As fires burned at the oil terminal, open-source intelligence groups reported that drones also hit an important air-defense base near Novorossiysk. The site was believed to house S-300 and S-400 missile systems. These systems are used to defend the region.
Footage posted online showed a massive explosion at the air-defense position. A tall pillar of flames rose into the night sky. The strength of the blast suggested direct hits on equipment. No official details were released about the extent of the destruction.
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The explosions caused disruptions across the region. Airports in Krasnodar and Gelendzhik temporarily suspended flights due to safety concerns. Travelers were left waiting until the situation became clearer the following morning.
By daylight, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its forces had intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones across Krasnodar. However, this claim could not be independently verified and did not match the visible destruction recorded in videos from Novorossiysk.
The combination of the oil terminal fire and the drone strike on the air-defense facility made it one of the most intense nights the city had experienced in months. Several targets appeared to be hit at almost the same time, indicating a well-coordinated operation.
Ukraine Confirms Use of New Long-Range Weapons During Overnight Operations
Hours after the blasts in Novorossiysk, Ukraine’s military confirmed that it had used several home-built long-range systems during coordinated overnight strikes. These included the Flamingo, Bars, and Liutyi systems.
The announcement was accompanied by nighttime videos showing missiles launching into the air. According to Ukraine’s military, these systems were used during operations inside Russia as well as in occupied areas of Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia region.
This was one of the first public confirmations that the Flamingo and Bars systems had been used in long-range strikes. These systems are believed to give Ukraine the capability to hit deeper and more strategic targets.
While Ukraine did not directly mention Novorossiysk, the timing of the confirmation drew widespread attention since the city experienced explosions and fires on the same night.
The Sheskharis terminal in Novorossiysk is considered a critical part of Russia’s oil export infrastructure. It receives crude oil from multiple pipelines and fields before shipping it across the Black Sea. Any disruption—even temporary—can slow exports and create bottlenecks across the wider network.
As emergency crews worked through the morning, smoke remained visible over parts of Novorossiysk, and the city continued assessing damage from one of the most dramatic overnight attacks reported in the region in recent weeks.
