Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Wednesday to seize European vessels in retaliation if European countries begin seizing Russian merchant ships after Ukraine launched a major overnight attack on a key Russian Black Sea naval and commercial hub and Moscow staged large-scale war games in the Pacific.
The developments underscore a growing battle at sea: Ukraine is hitting one of Russia’s most important Black Sea naval and export hubs, while Moscow is warning it could seize European vessels and flexing its naval power in the Pacific. Though the events are not directly linked, they show how the war is increasingly extending beyond the front lines into strategic ports and international shipping routes.
Ukraine hammered the port city of Novorossiysk in a massive overnight drone attack that put two major grain terminals out of operation, according to Russian industry sources cited by Reuters Aug. 12. Novorossiysk is a major Black Sea export hub and also serves as a base for Russian warships that Moscow relocated there after repeated Ukrainian attacks on its Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed responsibility Wednesday morning for an operation targeting the Novorossiysk naval base, calling it “the last major stronghold of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.” In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukraine used Palianytsia jet-powered drones, Neptune missiles and unmanned naval systems and claimed hits on air-defense positions, piers and port infrastructure.
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“The occupation fleet and all the infrastructure supporting it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region said at least two people, including an 8-year-old child, were killed in the wider wave of attacks. Novorossiysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko said more than two dozen residential buildings, four businesses and educational facilities were damaged, and the city’s water supply was suspended. Reuters reported that Chicago wheat futures rose roughly 3% amid concerns over potential disruptions to Russian grain exports.
Separately Wednesday, thousands of miles to the east, Putin appeared aboard the Russian missile cruiser Varyag near Sakhalin while observing Pacific Fleet exercises and issued a warning to European governments increasingly targeting Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
The European Union has expanded sanctions against hundreds of vessels and detained some ships and their crews for checks, while some European governments are considering tougher maritime enforcement against vessels suspected of sanctions evasion, Reuters reported Wednesday.
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Quoting Putin, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on X, “Attempts to seize Russian vessels & sell off our property are outright piracy. If such plans are implemented, Russia will respond in kind – wherever we deem necessary, including within the Pacific Fleet’s area of responsibility.”
The warning came against the backdrop of sweeping Russian naval exercises. The drills stretched across the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Northwest Pacific and involved more than 13,000 personnel and around 60 ships, submarines and support vessels. Russian Defense Ministry figures reported separately put the number of participating aircraft, helicopters and unmanned systems at around 30.
Video supplied by East2West showed Russian forces firing anti-ship missiles during the drills. Bastion coastal missile systems launched Oniks cruise missiles at simulated enemy ships from Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, while the corvette Smerch fired a Uran anti-ship cruise missile, according to East2West.
Putin also used his Pacific appearance to accuse NATO of expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific and Arctic regions, pointing to new military alliances and planned weapons deployments that he said were increasing the potential for conflict.
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The developments unfolded as attacks continued on both sides. Reuters reported that Russia struck the Ukrainian port of Odesa and that a separate Russian attack set fire to a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, underscoring the continuing pressure on ports and logistics infrastructure as the war approaches four and a half years.
Separately, Romania said its naval forces destroyed two suspected Russian Gerbera drones over the Black Sea, roughly 90 nautical miles from Constanta, according to East2West.
NATO said its North Atlantic Council met Wednesday to discuss Russian airspace violations in Poland and Romania and recent drone incidents. A NATO spokesperson said allies “condemned Russia for actions, expressed solidarity with allies affected [and] reaffirmed support to Ukraine.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
