A Ukrainian drone attack has damaged two vessels and port infrastructure in Russia’s Krasnodar region, sparking a large fire near the Black Sea coast, regional authorities said on Monday.

According to the Krasnodar region’s operational headquarters, the strike targeted the Volna terminal, where two ships and two piers sustained damage. All crew members aboard the vessels were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported.

Authorities said the resulting fire spread across an area of approximately 1,500 square meters and was still burning as of 2:00 a.m. GMT, as emergency response teams worked to bring the blaze under control.

The Krasnodar region has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, particularly against energy infrastructure, fuel depots, ports, and airfields. The area is considered strategically important due to its role in Russia’s energy exports and military logistics, given its location along the Black Sea and its proximity to southern Ukraine.

The village of Volna is situated near the Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait, a key logistical artery connecting mainland Russia to the Crimean Peninsula. The bridge plays a central role in supplying Russian forces and maintaining transport links to Crimea, making the surrounding area a frequent focus of attacks.

The latest incident comes amid continued drone warfare in the Black Sea region, where both Russia and Ukraine have sought to disrupt supply routes and strategic infrastructure. In December, Ukraine claimed it carried out a novel underwater drone attack in Novorossiysk, saying its domestically developed “Sub Sea Baby” drones struck a Russian Kilo-class submarine, inflicting critical damage and rendering it non-operational.

Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet denied that the submarine was damaged, insisting that vessels in the port remained operational. Satellite imagery released at the time did not visibly confirm surface damage to the submarine.

The Black Sea has increasingly become a testing ground for changes in modern naval warfare, as large and technologically advanced vessels face growing threats from unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. These systems have demonstrated the ability to penetrate port defenses, strike sea lanes, and challenge traditional concepts of naval superiority.

Both sides have actively deployed unmanned platforms to target military assets, disrupt logistics, and exert pressure far from front-line combat zones. The evolving tactics have also heightened risks for civilian life in the Black Sea region, with commercial shipping, ports, and energy facilities increasingly exposed to drone attacks. (ILKHA)