War Ukraine – Russia, last minute | Ukrainian maritime drones attack a Russian navy base near the port of Novorossiysk
The first Ukrainian attack against one of Russia's main commercial ports, Novorossiysk, took place this morning since Russia refused last month to extend the agreement that allowed the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates an oil terminal there, said it had not suffered any damage to its facilities but has been affected by a temporary ban on all movement of ships.
Russian warships destroyed Ukrainian maritime drones that attacked a Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a major hub for Russian exports, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
Russian air defenses shot down 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea on Friday morning and suppressed three more with electronic countermeasures.
Unmanned devices have monopolized the leading role for weeks both in the air, be it in Moscow, Kiev or Crimea, and in the waters of the Black Sea when 526 days of war in Ukraine have been completed.
Russia does not believe a US promise that Washington will help ensure Moscow can freely export food if it returns to the Black Sea grain deal, state news agency RIA quoted the Kremlin as saying on Friday, Reuters reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Thursday: “Should we return to the agreement, of course, we will continue to do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone can export their food and food products freely and safely. , including Russia.”
Russia last month withdrew from the deal that had allowed Ukraine to ship food from its Black Sea ports, complaining about obstacles to its own food and fertilizer exports.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday denounced “disgusting” practices uncovered during an audit of Ukraine's military recruitment centers and vowed to fix the system by putting people who understand the meaning of war in charge.
Zelensky has expressed outrage over corruption uncovered during the audit last month, after a high-profile incident of irregularities in the Black Sea port of Odessa came to light..
“We have had a detailed discussion,” Zelensky said in his late-night video address after meeting with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and SBU security service chief Vasyl Maliuk.. “The investigation is revealing numerous abuses,” Zelenskiy said.. “And they are downright disgusting,” reports Reuters.
The investigation of recruitment bureaus is part of a long drive to root out corruption, a critical issue as Ukraine presses its campaign to join NATO and the European Union.
The Russian Defense Ministry has removed the August 2 speech by Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) commander Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky possibly due to its disclosure of Russian casualties in Ukraine, according to the latest update to the Institute for the Defense Study of War (ISW) on the state of the war in Ukraine.
Teplinsky claimed on Russian Airborne Forces Day, which falls on August 2, that at least 8,500 airborne personnel have been wounded in Ukraine since the start of the war, a rare official disclosure of Russian casualties, that Russian officials want to hide as the war has progressed.
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman removed Teplinsky's 2 August speech on his TV Zvezda channel and some Russian sources claimed that this removal was due to the casualty count.
The BBC and opposition outlet Mediazona have confirmed that at least 1,800 VDV personnel were killed in action in Ukraine as of July 30, and a 1:3 fatality to wounded ratio is on average (if not slightly better) for Russian forces in Ukraine. If confirmed, it would be the first Ukrainian attack against one of Russia's main commercial ports.
The Caspian Pipeline Concern, which loads oil onto tankers in Novorossiysk, said the port has temporarily banned all movement of ships.. It stated that its facilities had not been damaged and that oil continued to be loaded onto the tankers that were already moored.
Videos posted on a local online community and broadcast by Russian news outlet Astra showed boats moving off the coast to the sound of gunshots coming from the direction of the sea.
Novorossiysk emergency services have confirmed the reports of explosions and security services have been informed, Russian news agency RIA has reported.. The port is one of the largest on the Black Sea.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited the frontline headquarters of the “Center” army group involved in the Ukrainian conflict, Russian news agencies reported on Friday, citing the Defense Ministry.
Shoigu was briefed by a group commander and thanked the officers and troops for “carrying out successful operations” near Lyman, Interfax reported.
He was also shown a Swedish CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle that was abandoned by retreating Ukrainian soldiers after being hit by an anti-tank hand grenade, and Shoigu was briefed on the “deficiencies” of the Swedish model, Interfax said.
The report was in line with Russian efforts to downplay the effectiveness of weapons and equipment that NATO members and other Western countries have supplied to Ukraine.